Santa Barbara is very dog friendly! I would love to list four of my favorite places to take my dog “Chasey.”

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I, along with Village Properties agents Elaine Abercrombie, Billy Mandarino and Joshua Ramirez, spent Wednesday morning, February 20th, sharing stories about our jobs and insights into our careers with students at San Marcos High School. After a morning breakfast and enthusiastic welcome from the school administration and event organizers, we dispatched to classrooms where we spoke to four sessions of students.

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Last night we (Elizabeth Wagner & DeAnn Bauer) hosted another great Green Drinks event here in Santa Barbara. The location was the Pierre Lafond Bistro on State Street which was a perfect location and many thanks to Anne Marie Costura for setting up the event. Farmer’s Market customers and vendors were bustling by outside, a TV free zone inside with great lighting and art welcomed our 40+ guests throughout the evening. Plus the food was delicious, all organic and made by executive chef, Josh Keating formerly of the Clift Hotel in San Francisco.

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Village Properties is the exclusive affiliate in the Santa Barbara area for Christie’s Great Estates. Recently Christie’s released a report that surveyed the real estate market in multiple regions of the United States. As Christie’s GE exclusive affiliate, we’ve reprinted that survey here for your benefit. It provides an interesting picture of the national market. Enjoy. (more…)

Michael Blackwell, formerly of the San Ysidro Ranch, has been tapped to become the new Executive Chef of Ty Warner’s Montecito Country Club. He has been quoted as saying that the menu changes will be toward bringing local fresh ingredients into play. There will be new signature recipes, with an emphasis on healthy choice entrees.  Michael has worked in Europe as well as New York before coming to Santa Barbara.

What a beautiful day. There was a great low tide, so we took the dogs and horses to Summerland Beach. I think the dogs had the most fun chasing tennis balls in the surf. 70 degrees in February!

I regularly compile a list of up-coming local events in my own newsletter. I’ve posted a few of those events here. Let me know if you find anything you like or if you’re interested in being on my newsletter list.

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As you are probably aware, the US Congress is hoping to pass an emergency rebate that many of us will receive in the next few months. They are doing this to stimulate the economy. I have been listening to the pundits talk about what they “hope” people do with this extra cash. Spending it is key. They want us to spend. So, I have ideas as to what to spend it on. BUY GREEN. Buy Local, Buy organic if possible. Here are some ideas:

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Congratulations Renee! Our own Renee Grubb, Co-owner of Village Properties, has been elected 2008 Chairwoman for the SB Region Chamber of Commerce.

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While waiting in line at the voting booth this morning, with Starbuck’s latte in hand, it brought back memories of my days in Seattle, (well actually Bainbridge Island), when Starbucks, created by three academics, opened a store called Starbuck’s Coffee, Tea and Spice, in the fabulous and renown  Seattle Pike Place Market!
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