Proffessor Chîn and the Sul da Bahia gang showing their stuff in Alemeda park.

Near Figueroa.  Feels low.

It's supposed to be up in the 80's today.

Thanks to  Stepan Mazurov for the use (and CC remixing) of his photo.

I can vouch for Avenue Q. Saw it on Broadway. It was wonderful.

Though, to be honest, I kind of like the cloudy humid stuff too.

Here's some music for your day:

Needed something quick and good while I was downtown to return some shirts. Bittermans is so tucked away that I knew it'd be fiesta & tourist-free. I ordered a toasted turkey sandwich, signed the credit card receipt, and only seconds after sitting down, had my hot sandwich placed in front of me by the exeedingly friendly woman who runs the place. I swear she has a flux-capacitator back there somewhere. It's that uncannily fast. Funny that the Seinfeld episode playing was the one where Jerry, George and Elaine cant get a table to save their lives.

Something about this image rings true for me. The street is almost empty. Confetti is being blown around by the wind, and there are some firemen packing up an old hose behind the bank. And then there is this great sound of the horses constant whinnying (they seemed agitated) echoing off the buildings. To me, this, more than anything else, feels like the spirit of fiestas past.

It's hot & a little smokey up here

Usually I see them perched on the meadow at the top of Elings Park.  Today, Saturday, May 30, this ambitious group met and flew above Douglas Preserve.  

or at least that's what we've always called the rarely breaking surf spot just west of Ledbetter.  

A sign posted on Mission Canoyn

These photographs were taken between 9:00 and 9:30PM from atop a parking structure at UCSB, from where the Jesusita Fire is easily visible.

More photos here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/alexdunn/sets/72157617853010754/

The heat has brought an intimidating cloud of insects to our porch light. Among them were these huge moths! One died last night ( the discheveled one). The other one showed up tonight almost as if to mourn it's friend.

Update: We were curious about the moths behavior so we called up the Santa Barbara Natural History Museum's Michael Caterino (Curator of Entomology) in hopes of getting a little bit more information. 

After seeing our picture here on City2, Michael said that it was a Sphinx Moth (hyles lineata).  They're attracted to night blooming flowers, and are native to the area.   When flying, they resemble hummingbirds.  I saw a bunch of these outside of the Coffee Cat the other day sticking their proboscides into the flowers in the tree out front.  

Many thanks to Mr. Caterino for the help!  

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Whatever you call sounds of displeasure swans make, that's what this handsome guy made when I was taking his photo at the UCSB lagoon.  It sounded like hissing to me so I made a quick about-face and continued my peaceful walk along the coastal bluffs.    

Anyone know about the loud choppers that fly over the Santa Barbara > a few times a week? Is there a reason they fly directly over the city ( as opposed to over the water where they wouldn't make windows > rattle and dogs bark)?  I'm not complaining ( I always look up and check them out) but am definitely curious why their flight path is what it is.

Take a tour of Santa Barbara Harbor.  Don't miss our resident celebrities (besides Paycheck, that is).

I am not a fan of Poison Oak. And now that it's officially spring, there seems to be no shortage of it. You can even find it crowding relatively well-worn urban paths.  This photo (for example) was taken from Loma Alta Drive on my walk over to Shorline Cafe.  

See how the oily new Poison Oak leaves blend right in with the new and shiny scrub oak leaves?  Sneaky. I was surprised that even for a former boy scout, I found it hard to tell the two sets of fresh leaves apart.   

Because I am a genius, just before snapping this photo, I accidentally brushed my wrist on one of these two branches (not sure which). I then proceeded to check and double check my arm height to determine which branch I had touched.  Then, just to be safe, I walked down to the cafe parking lot (holding my 'quarantined arm up like an idiot), strode across the beach, and scrubbed the hell out of it with sand and saltwater.  Even then, I couldn't enjoy my chowder without feeling like I should run off to the bathroom to make sure I'd removed all the oils from my skin.  Good times.   

As a small aside.. I remember hearing as a kid that the Chumash would eat very small portions of the plant (over time)  to build an immunity to it. I don't have the cajones to try it.. but I am curious if anyone else knows anything about this mythical remedy?

Here's the Wikipedia Page on the plant. 

Think you're in Hawaii or some other exotic destination?  Not so.  Check out my City2 blog (SB's savvy senior correspondent) on taking the grandkids to Alice Keck Memorial Gardens.  

keep your distance these birds are dangerous

This photo taken about 1:00pm friday from upper San Roque looking over Lauro Reservoir.  The choppers were making regular runs from the fire to the reservoir and back.  THANK YOU FIREFIGHTERS!