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The Bittersweet Beauty of State Street
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The Bittersweet Beauty of State Street I've cruised Santa Barbara's nine or 10 block main drag, State Street, for 36 years now. While a student at UCSB, I had one unfortunate puking in the gutter near Head of the Wolf (now a Starbucks) after imbibing too many Margaritas during the annual Fiesta event, but, mostly, my downtown SB experiences have been positive. This afternoon State Street was busy, filled with shopping tourists and locals heading to the Farmer's Market. It felt good to be out strolling my town with my little Kasidie. Kasidie ( who has the same name as the couples-friendly swinger site I prefer; tell them couplescoach referred you when you sign up) makes people happy. People grin when they see her six inch tall body with the long back and her lively, tail-above-her back walk . She, like me, walks like the owns the world. Often, people stop us, pet her and ask what kind of she is. I tell them she's a "Dorkie," which is a Mini-Dachshund/Yorkshire Terrier cross. Unlike Kasidie, at 54, I feel invisible...except to the hawkers of expensive eye creams. I look just prosperous and just wrinkled enough to be lured into spending hundreds of dollars on miracle creams. I take the free samples, thank them kindly and walk on. 30-some years ago I remember that the swing of my hips turned heads. Such is life. Today I sampled half a dozen fresh shucked Pacific Coast oysters at Kanaloa Seafood (an institution that's recently moved to one block off State and opened a cafe). They were delicious! Then I walked on to Natasha, the women's clothing store I've been visiting for 30 years. I reminded the owner Natasha of that fact. Back when my ex-husband and I ran Victoria Street Theater and I'd pick up her ads for the movie flyer mailed out to patrons, I lusted after her soft fabrics, striking colors (that suit my complexion) and interesting styles that drape beautifully on a mature woman's body. I couldn't afford them back then. Now Natasha's clothes are what I choose when I wear clothes. Here's what I was wearing from her store today:  Walking back down State Street, I noted that State & A, a former once-a-week after-work hangout for my ex and me where we'd enjoy a Tequila Sunrise and nachos, has been replaced by The Benchmark, an expensive eatery where I've been exactly once when one of the partners gave me free passes for drinks AND dinner. I had a great time there groping my Bi-BFF. We embarrassed our waitress. If I'm going to eat well, I walk just a block up to Opal or Jane, two long-standing locally owned restaurants, slightly less pricey, that are rarely less than excellent in fresh flavors and presentation. The bittersweet part --besides feeling invisible as what the French call "une femme d'un certain age"-- was seeing all the "Going Out of Business" signs. I counted eight just on one side of the street. Business death makes me sad because it's the end of someone's dream. Those dying are almost entirely locally owned retail stores which will sit vacant until they are filled by a national chain. Do we actually need a Starbucks on EVERY block? Nonetheless, Santa Barbara's main street remains beautiful, clean and filled with flowers, plants and happy people. I recognize that I'm privileged both to live here and to enjoy the leisure time to stroll, eat and observe. {=}{=}{=} BiPolyBabe69 |
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6/14/2016 6:57 pm |
Been a long time since I cruised there, glad it hasn't changed much! 
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Santa Barbara was a great place to be a kid in the 1970s. Riding my bike from Castillo and Mission over to the Arlington Theater and stopping at McConnell's Ice Cream for ice cream in a waffle cone. Yummy. Walking the half a block to Garfield School before it was turned into a special ed school. Going over to Deano's Pizzeria on Cliff Dr next to my uncle's 76 station. Deano's has relocated to Lafayette, La, so I can still get a taste of Santa Barbara. Bringing Heleva for a visit is on my 'To Do' list to see what remains. Enjoy Santa Barbara.
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