Santa Barbara County Courthouse

Conservation - Preservation - Restoration

Santa Barbara Historic Landmark

Santa Barbara County Historic Courthouse

For almost 160 years this site has been the home of local government

and a place of civic pride and celebration.Constructed in 1926 after

the smaller Greek-Revival Courthouse was damaged in an

earthquake the previous year.

Named in honor of Saint Barbara, the courthouse complex is

comprised of four buildings totalling 150,000 square feet. 

A full basement contains mechanical equipment, parking and

storage. The jail wing is no longer used for prisoner holding.

When constructed in 1929 there were just two courtrooms located

in the Figueroa Wing, with other county government offices. 

The "Sunken Gardens" and the "Steps" are the venue for many of

Santa Barbara's wonderful events...Easter Services, Patriotic Pops

Concert on July 4th, Opening of Fiesta, Graduation Events and many
more civic and private events.  The Court House Gardens
and facilities are available for weddings and private events.

contact:  http://www.santabarbaracourthouse.org/sbch/

or call 805 568-3070

Restoration of the Santa Barbara Courthouse is being

spearheaded by the Santa Barbara Courthouse Legacy

Foundation. Formed in 2004 as a not-for-profit (501-C-3)

corporation, it is governed by a Board of Trustees.

The Spirit of the Ocean Fountain has been in critical need of replacement. 

Over the last five years or so of planning, fundraising and talent searching,

the carving is underway. Stop by and check out the progress for yourself.

 Monday-Saturday 7 am to 6 pm. 

http://www.courthouselegacyfoundation.org/Projects.html

(information and restoration photos from the Courthouse

and Legacy websites)

For more information on the restoration of the Clock Room,

the Mural Room Windows and Draperies visit the

Legacy Foundation Website.

The Court House offers Docent led tours Monday,

Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays at 10:30 am. 

Tours begin in the Mural Room on the second floor.

Also:  Garden Tours are 10:30 am first and third

Saturday of the month

meet under large arch on Anacapa Street. 

Free.  962-6464

I proudly received my American Citizenship in the

Mural Room many years ago.

Zoo News

The Santa Barbara Zoo......a major local treasure

Young Otter Pups Thrive

On your next visit to the Zoo, make sure to stop by the otter exhibit. The five pups, born in August to Bob & Jillian (named by donors Peter & Pieter Crawford-van Meeuwen), recently received access to the "big" pool in their exhibit. Not only are they nearly as big as their parents now, but they're also very active - they play, dive, swim, and run all over the exhibit.

The Zoo's newest arrival has yet to make his public debut. Daniel (named by donors Chad & Ginni Dreier), the Masai giraffe calf born in January, is doing well and continues to grow. We anticipate he'll join the other giraffes out on exhibit this spring.

Celebrate with Us at These Upcoming Events

Elephants' 40th Birthday Celebration

Saturday, February 26th - 10:00 a.m. - 3:00 pm.

Asian elephants Sujatha and Little Mac are feted as "fit and fabulous at 40" at an upcoming birthday celebration at the Santa Barbara Zoo. The two females, who recently lost a total of more than 3600 pounds, are to enjoy a "spa day" of pedicures, grooming and brushing, snacks of health-conscious foods, some painting, and jumbo-sized birthday cakes and piñatas. Keeper talks reveal the special care received by the Zoo's elephants (like daily pedicures) and the challenges facing their endangered counterparts in the wild. Check the event calendar for the full schedule of activities.

Princess Day
Saturday, March 12 - 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.

Meet Snow White, Sleeping Beauty, and Cinderella in person as princesses from around the world unite for frog conservation on Princess Day. There will be special shows...with princesses. Photo opportunities...with princesses. Games with princesses and...lots of princesses. There are frog-inspired crafts, games, and special animal appearances. Plus, find out how zoos and aquariums around the world are working together to save amphibians.

It’s B.Y.O.T. (Bring Your Own Tiara), and costumes are encouraged…frog kissing is optional. Princes, cowboys, and superheroes are also welcome.

Zoo-To-Do

Saturday, March 5 - 8:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.

You Belong in the Zoo!

Volunteer at Zoo-to-Do or Find Your Summer Job at the Job Fair

Community members help with a Zoo improvement project during this one day, Zoo-to-Do. Past projects include beautification of the Zoo gardens and exhibits. Volunteers receive lunch and two Zoo guest passes.

Cost: None, volunteer event. Pre-registration is required and participants must be 13 years of age or older; please email the Conservation Education Department or call (805) 962-5339, ext. 152 for more information.

Santa Barbara Zoo Annual Job Fair

Tuesday, March 15 - 4:00 – 6:00 p.m.

Discover the "wildest" summer jobs in town for anyone aged 14 and over. Meet the staff and learn about the many job and volunteer opportunities at the Zoo. Refreshments and special animal encounters for those filling out applications. Teen applicants are encouraged to bring their parents. Please contact Corinne Santini at (805) 962-5339, ext. 108 for more information.

California Condor Nest Monitor Training

Registration Required - R.S.V.P. Now!

The Santa Barbara Zoo, in partnership with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, will be training nest monitors for the 2011 season as part of the California Condor Recovery Program. During the 2007-2010 nesting seasons, we fledged 11 chicks in southern California! This is an unprecedented accomplishment and we invite you to join us as we undertake our fifth season of nest guarding. The trainings will cover topics including an introduction to the project, observation protocols, and our ethogram.

Training Part 1 of 2: The Egg StageWednesday, February 23rd, 6:30PM-8:30PM

Training Part 2 of 2: The Chick StageDate/Time TBA at Training Part 1

Prerequisite: Training Part 1

Register Now for Spring Zoo Camp!

Monday - Friday, March 28 - April 1

Monday - Friday, April 4 - 8

9:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.

Join us for some wild spring break fun! The Santa Barbara Zoo's award-winning Zoo Camps for ages 3 - 9 introduce kids to the wild world of animals and science. Campers will enjoy learning about the Zoo's animals through games, crafts, up-close animal encounters, and behind-the-scenes tours.

Cost per day: SB Zoo Members $40; Non-members $45
(Register for five or more days and get $20 off your total!)
Optional Lunch Package: $8.50/day (vegetarian options available)

Santa Barbara Zoo
500 Niños Drive, Santa Barbara, CA 93103

(805) 962-5339

www.sbzoo.org

zooinfo@sbzoo.org

all information, including photos from SB Zoo Newsletters

Alice's Garden

Alice Keck Park Memorial Gardens

Alice Keck Park donated this gorgeous property to the City Santa Barbara to be used as a public garden.

I remember it originally as the site of the El Mirasol Hotel where I attended several weddings many years ago.  The Park takes up an entire block from Michetorena to Santa Barbara Streets from Garden to Arrellaga Streets.

 the Santa Barbara Botanic Gardens acts as landscape consultant for this beautiful park.

 Grant Castleberg, A.S.I.A. was selected to design the Park in 1976. Grant is a well known local Landscape Architect who also designed the City's gorgeous Shoreline Park.

Alice's Garden offers many nooks and crannies, including this lovely display of water lillies. Alice "intended for her garden to be a place for ordinary people  to take a nature-break for the soul, a brown bag picnic lunch, or a few moments of solitude."*

 "This enchanting garden has no playgrounds, no athletic fields, and none of the busyness of most city parks, yet year after year it is voted Santa Barbara's favorite".*

The landscape of Alice's Garden includes a Demonstration Garden for low-water using plants

There are wonderful pathways to explore the many secrets of Alice's Garden

Plants are labeled and there is a free 'take away' list on the property of over 250 species as a field guide for the casual visitor and a valuable tool for gardeners and horticulturalists 

A bench under a shade tree offers a respite from busy days...

a waterfall adds a magical element to the gardens bucolic pond...

The Pond filled with large Koi is an amazing magnet for birds, turtles, toddlers, and children of all ages...

Large tree specimens provide shelter for all....

can you just hear the frogs....?

Magical...

Lucky Ducks....!

The Garden offers a master plan along with a "take one" plant list and brochure outlining the many low water using plants which thrive at Alice's Garden.  Whenever we need to do some replanting in our garden...we take a walk in Alice's garden for inspiration.  Thank YOU Alice, Grant and the City of Santa Barbara for this Magical place!

By the way...many a birthday party, wedding and graduation photo op has taken place in this wonderful park.  Contact the City of Santa Barbara Parks Department for more information.

Alice's Garden, a gorgeous book written by Ann Castleberg, wife of the Landscape Architect, explores the Garden's History featuring Ralph Clevenger's magical photography of the Garden. Available at bookstores or http://www.sbbg.org/

Santa Barbara's Magical Waterfront

Santa Barbara's Water Front has it all....

 famous local artist Bud Bottoms presented the City with this beautiful Dolphin Sculpture

which is located on an infinity fountain at the bottom of State Street and the beginning of the Waterfront

Our favorite Sunday Brunch place, the Breakwater Cafe...not bad for casual lunch or dinner either...

with a wonderful outdoor patio

numerous choices of fabulous locally owned restaurants, including

The Waterfront Grill and Endless Summer Bar-Cafe

(a couple of 'old time local surfers started this restaurant along with Chuck's many surf years ago!)

Remember the surf movie, "Endless Summer?"  Yes it included local surf legends..

 Chuck's Steak House (the other one is in Hawaii)

 right next to the Maritime Museum

 Brophy Brothers (also locally owned) is very popular with locals

go early (4:30 pm) to get a patio seat!

....which offers this fabulous view!

big and little kids love watching the commercial fishing boats come in to shore...

Our local restaurants and Farmer's Market carry our local catch!

Water Taxi's and romantic Harbor Cruises are available for tours and private events

call 805 896-6900 or visit:  captfredsb@me.com

....or just spend an endless summer day watching the boats come and go

rent a boat or buy a boat or a yacht......why not???

the Coast Guard also docks here

then there is the fabulous Santa Barbara Yacht Club, a very family friendly organization.

What a setting and what a view!!!

is this what paradise is like???

the private boat harbor features the Puerta Vallarta Sister City statue

sometimes a walk on the Breakwater  is a race against the crashing waves

All in all it is a most picturesque place to spend the day....

be sure to bring your camera!

 4th of July is just one of the fun times to spend here

as is the Christmas Boat Parade of Lights in December

for more information on all of the wonderful waterfront activities go to the website of the City of Santa Barbara http://www.santabarbaraca.gov/

you will find information on Boating Activities, the family friendly Maritime Museum, Docklines is the Santa Barbara Harbor newsletter published onlien and filled with timely and useful information, including the annual Santa Barbara Harbor Nautical Swap Meet, planned for May 15, 2010

for information on the Harbor & Seafood Festival annually held in October visit http://www.harborfestival.org/