The Neal House is a romantic and gorgeous home. In the late 1960’s, this home became a Hollywood Star when it was used in the filming of the Emmy Award-winning TV show, “The Ghost and Mrs. Muir”.

The Neal House blends the styles of Queen Ann, Craftsman and
American Colonial Revival. Preserving the very best of its original style and workmanship with original floors, windows, 6 fireplaces, 5 bedrooms and den.Updated farmhouse kitchen with many original design elements and top of the line appliances.The large kitchen, with extensive  storage and counter space, large island,  will please the chefs, and all the helpers.

This is truly the Santa Barbara lifestyle at its best! Take a peek into the Neal House.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GHpRtUW3J_g

Unusual Behavior Exhibit
Now through January 17 at the Contemporary Arts Forum

This exhibit features video works that explore the absurd and its meanings.

The Contemporary Arts Forum is located at the Paseo Nuevo Mall Arts Terrace and is open from 11:00 AM-5:00 PM Tuesday-Saturday and noon-5:00 PM on Sunday.

For more information on this and other exhibits visit www.sbcaf.org

Touring Santa Barbara though the Magic Lantern: Images from the Pearl Chase Collection, 1915 -1926
Now through January 31at at Casa de la Guerra
This exhibit provides a look at Santa Barbara through the eyes of visitors from nearly a century ago. Open Saturday – Sunday, Noon to 4:00 PM.

Casa de la Guerra is located at 15 East De la Guerra Street. For more information visit www.sbthp.org/events2.htm#exhibits

Ceramics Rediscovered: Science Reshapes Understanding of Hispanic Life in Early California
Now through January 28 at El Presidio

This exhibit shows how ceramics were made and traded. It is free with museum admission. Museum admission is $5 for adults, $4 for seniors (62 and up), and free for children. Open 10:30 AM to 4:30 PM.

El Presidio de Santa Barbara State Historic Park is located at 123 East Canon Perdido Street. For more information visit www.sbthp.org/events2.htm#exhibits

1^st Thursday- An Evening of Visual and Performing Art
January 7
February 4

This monthly event focuses on art and culture. Downtown galleries will keep their doors open from 5-8 PM. There will also be additional happenings, including music and drinks. For more information visit www.santabarbaradowntown.com/go.asp

Maureen McDermut, Santa Barbara’s leading real estate expert offers essential tips and secrets to enjoying the Santa Barbara Lifestyle.

Tags: About Santa Barbara, Maureen McDermut, Santa Barbara Arts, Santa Barbara Homes, Santa Barbara Lifestyle, Santa Barbara Lifestyles, Santa Barbara Real Estate, The Oak Group, Visit Santa Barbara

By Maureen McDermut

Santa Barbara Lifestyles

If you want to experience Santa Barbara sights in a unique 90 minute tour, then the trolley tour is for you! There are 15 stops – some of the tour highlights are listed below:

Stearn’s Wharf- Hailed as Santa Barbara’s most visited landmark, the first stop on the tour features shops, dining and fishing.

East Beach – This beach is a tourist favorite and a local favorite for those who enjoy volleyball and relaxation.

Santa Barbara Museum of  Natural History - Exhibits depict the natural history of Santa Barbara. Open daily from 10:00 AM-5:00 PM. There is a $2 discount on admission if you present your trolley tour ticket. It is valid even after the day of your tour.

Courthouse- Features great architecture and is home of the Sunken Gardens.

El Presidio – Experience one of the last military fortresses. Open daily from 10:30 AM-4:30 PM. There is a 10% discount on Presidio Store merchandise if you present your trolley tour ticket. It is valid even after the day of your tour.

Santa Barbara Zoo- Features more than 500 animals. Open daily from 10:00-5:00 PM. There is a $1 discount on admission if you present your trolley tour ticket. It is valid even after the day of your tour.

Adult all day passes are $19 and one child (12 and under) may ride for free with each paid adult pass. Each additional child is $8. If you buy 2 adult passes online, you save $5. Your tour begins at Stearn’s Wharf on Cabrillo Blvd. For more information visit www.sbtrolley.com

Tags: About Santa Barbara, Maureen McDermut, Santa Barbara Arts, Santa Barbara Homes, Santa Barbara Lifestyle, Santa Barbara Lifestyles, Santa Barbara Real Estate, The Oak Group, Visit Santa Barbara

Peter Pan
Now through January 3, 2010

Enjoy Leonard Bernstein’s Peter Pan. Shows are at 2:00 PM or 7:00 PM depending on the day of the week. Patron tickets are $90-115, adult tickets are $49.50-65.50 depending on section, while children’s tickets are $32.50 for all performances and sections. There is a student and senior discount as well. Students with a valid ID and seniors (age 62 and over) may receive $10 off the regular ticket price at time of purchase, for all seats except for Patron and Opening Night.

For detailed ticket and show time information, visit Lebro.com – Calendar

An Evening with Keb’Mo
January 13, 2010
8:00 PM

Part of the American Roots series, his music embraces pop, rock, folk and jazz styles. Song can be used in a powerful way to tell stories, from love songs to laments. Don’t miss out on this performance! Tickets are $35, $45, and $100 (Patron).

For detailed ticket and show time information, visit Lebro.com – Calendar

Garrick Ohlsson
January 16, 2010
8:00 PM

Ohlsson will perform an all-Chopin recital featuring the composer’s Piano Sonata No. 2, plus a selection of Nocturnes, Polonaises, Mazurkas and more. This performance helps celebrate the 200^th anniversary of Chopin and Ohlsson’s 40^th anniversary as the first American to win the Chopin International Piano Competition that was held in Warsaw, Poland. Tickets are $30 or $40 depending on seat section. For detailed ticket and show time information, visit Lebro.com – Calendar

The Lobero Theatre is located at 33 E Canon Perdido St. in downtown Santa Barbara at the corner of Anacapa and Canon Perdido Streets. For more events visit
Lebro.com – Calendar

Tags: About Santa Barbara, Maureen McDermut, Santa Barbara Arts, Santa Barbara Homes, Santa Barbara Lifestyle, Santa Barbara Lifestyles, Santa Barbara Real Estate, The Oak Group, Visit Santa Barbara

The U.S. House of Representatives just voted 403 to 112 to extend the $8,000 home buyer tax credit, expanding the  parameters to include existing homeowners and not just first-time buyers. Awaiting President Obama’s signature!

Must purchase by April 30, 2010, the purchaser has until July 1,2010 to close. Give me a call if you have a son or daughter, niece or nephew who you think would like to take advantage of this offer. Rates are at an all time low, and there is lots of inventory to choose from. I can not think of a better time to jump into the Santa Barbara real estate market. Become a homeowner today! Call me at 805.570.5545 or e-mail me at maureen@maureenmcdermut.com for further explanation!

By Maureen McDermut

In the summer of 1975 a group of friends who were artists and activists found themselves in Santa Barbara enjoying the vistas and the many opportunities for plein air painting.  Twenty six of these friends decided to form the now famous Oak Group. Oak cleverly standing for Outdoor Airing Klub.  The group was formed with the idea that art and activism needed to move hand in hand.  As such the group dedicated themselves to using art exhibitions to raise funds for environmental causes. 

To date, the Oak Group has raised over 1 million dollars which has gone to such organizations as The Nature Conservancy, the Environmental Defense Center, the Marin Agricultural Land Trust and the Land Trust for Santa Barbara County.

The artists in the Oak Group are known for their “open air” paintings that capture the majestic beauty of the lands the group is trying to preserve.  They present their work in a variety of formats and venues including the annual Santa Cruz Island Event and the summer MALT show.

The Oak Group donates 50 percent of all proceeds to environmental preservation causes.  For more information on the Oak Group or their upcoming shows, visit:  www.TheOakGroup.org

Maureen McDermut, Santa Barbara’s leading real estate expert offers essential tips and secrets to enjoying the Santa Barbara Lifestyle.

By Maureen McDermut

The Presidio in Santa Barbara is the oldest building in Santa Barbara and the second oldest building in California.  Built in 1782, it served as a military outpost and a government headquarters for the lands that stretched between Los Angeles and San Luis Obispo.  It remained a functional government building up until 1846.

The land and buildings on the property are now an Historical State Park allowing the public to view the two original buildings, which have been fully restored, and the five other buildings which were reconstructed with handmade adobe blocks. El Cuartel which is the oldest existing building in Santa Barbara, is all that remains of the last of four Royal Presidios (Spanish military outposts) built in Alta California.

The presidios played an important role in protecting the mission and the settlers as the attempted to settle “New Spain.” The  original buildings of the Presidio were designed to form a quadrangle which served to enclose a central area which was used as a parade ground. The entire complex was surrounded by an outer wall which held two cannons and served as a defense against intruders. Prominently featured in  the configuration of buildings was the Chapel.  The Chapel at the Presidio in Santa Barbara is considered Santa Barbara’s first church for townspeople as the Christianized Indian population would have worshipped at the mission.

El Presidio Historic Park is open to the public daily from 10:30 to 4:30, however it is closed on most major holidays. Ticket prices are $5 for Adults, $4 for seniors, children under 16 are free.  For more information visit: www.sbthp.org/presidio.htm

Maureen McDermut, Santa Barbara’s leading real estate expert offers essential tips and secrets to enjoying the Santa Barbara Lifestyle.

By Maureen McDermut

Nestled in the foot hills of Montecito, there is unique and lovely botanic garden that is devoted to preserving botanical treasures, known as Lotusland.  It’s actual name is The Ganna Walska Lotusland Foundation.  In 1941 Madame Ganna Walska bought the 37 acre property and created the gardens which now cover the grounds of the estate. 

Madame Ganna Walska was an interesting woman.  Born in 1887 in Poland, her real name was Hanna Puacz.  She changed her name to Madame Ganna Walska when she began her career as an actress and opera singer.  As a performer she toured to New York and Paris.  In her many adventures, which she wrote about in her memoirs, Always Room at the Top, she found time to marry six times.  She was a student of spirituality and was avidly interested in personal enlightenment. 

At the urgings of her sixth husband she bought the Cuesta Linda estate which would eventually be renamed Lotusland.  Her original idea for the property was to create a retreat for Tibetan Monks, but when no monks saw fit to retreat there and she had divorced the sixth and final husband, she renamed the property Lotusland in honor of the sacred Indian lotus plants that remain on the property to this day.

Madame Ganna took the role of garden designer very seriously.  She devoted all of her energies to creating a botanic garden of rare plants.  The result was and is exquisite. Madame Ganna died in 1984, but preserved the gardens as a foundation that allows the public to regularly view their intense beauty.

Lotusland is open Wednesday through Saturday from 10:30 to 1:30 from mid February thru mid November. For more information about Lotusland and ticket prices visit:  www.lotusland.org

Maureen McDermut, Santa Barbara’s leading real estate expert offers essential tips and secrets to enjoying the Santa Barbara Lifestyle.

By Maureen McDermut

Mission Santa Barbara is a beautiful and historic destination that offers visitors a look into California’s past.  Construction on the current Mission was begun in 1812 after the great Santa Barbara earthquake destroyed the previous Mission.  Construction was completed in 1820 and the dedication was performed.  The structure that is standing today and the building’s insides have not been significantly altered from the structure that was finished in 1820, allowing visitors to truly appreciate the buildings intended beauty.

When the Franciscan Missionaries arrived in California they found the Chumash Indians.  The Chumash were adept fisherman and daily took long boats out to capture their food in the waters surrounding Channel Islands.  The Franciscans taught the Chumash how to farm.  They brought olive and orange trees as well as grape vines and showed the Chumash how to cultivate them.  They also showed the Chumash how to grow wheat, corn and barley.  The Chumash in turn helped the Missionaries to build the elaborate water system that is still visible in the current mission.  When the mission period was over the Franciscans used the Mission buildings to run a high school and a junior college.

Today the Mission is open daily for public viewing.  Located in the heart of downtown Santa Barbara it is a popular place to enjoy a moment of quiet reflection or an educational stroll through history.  Tickets are $5 for adults, $4 for Seniors and $1 for children 6 and up, under six is free.  For more information visit:www.santabarbaramission.org

Maureen McDermut, Santa Barbara’s leading real estate expert offers essential tips and secrets to enjoying the Santa Barbara Lifestyle.

By Maureen McDermut

Let’s face it value is important, especially in today’s economy. Value is about more than just cost, it’s about return on cost.  Recently Matthew Bandyk wrote a piece for the US World News Report entitled 10 Pricey Cities that Pay Off!  His entire supposition is that there are some amenities worth paying for because the will add to the value of your home even in this turbulent market.

You’ll be happy to know that Santa Barbara was included in his choice of cities that pay off!  In fact Santa Barbara was second on the list, check out what Matthew Bandyk had to say about Santa Barbara,

“…With a population of 400,000, the Santa Barbara metro area has the second-highest quality of life and third-highest trade productivity. Why do California cities appear so high on this list? Santa Barbara is a perfect example of how built-in advantages boost a California city’s amenity value. Albouy found that, generally speaking, the number of days of sunshine a city has each year, the higher its land rent. Santa Barbara’s Southern California locale gives it plenty of sun. Another good predictor of land rent: proximity to a coast. Santa Barbara’s beaches—the city has been dubbed the “American Riviera”—are very likely another reason it has such a high quality of life…”

Thank you Mr. Bandyk for recognizing what those of us who live in Santa Barbara know – Santa Barbara is a great place to live and great place to own property.

Maureen McDermut, Santa Barbara’s leading real estate expert offers essential tips and secrets to enjoying the Santa Barbara Lifestyle.