The quiet little town of Los Alamos came alive during its annual Old Days celebration, Sept. 27-29. Saturday saw crowds of people viewing the annual car show and shoppers gearing up for the holidays purchasing gifts from the vendors. But Sunday held the most fun when the “Biggest Little Small-town Parade” weaved its way through town.

On Sunday at 9 a.m., a 5K run sponsored by CalSwoosh began with many runners participating in the event. The run/walk is a fundraiser for the nonprofit sports club part of CalSwoosh, which uses the proceeds to help underprivileged kids play sports. Trophies were awarded to the first overall male and female finishers. Medals were awarded to the top three finishers in seven divisions. 

Following the 5K run, hundreds of people began to gather along the streets of Los Alamos, awaiting the arrival of the parade, which featured dancing horses, fun floats, beautifully costumed dancers, and marching bands. 

Seeing the parade approaching, singer and songwriter Larry Barbro, owner of HotSpot Local, began to perform the national anthem while everyone stood silently with hands over their hearts. 

The theme of this year’s parade was “Past Meets Present” with 26 float entries participating.

James H. Bray (Jim) was the parade’s announcer. Bray is an extremely active member of the community with affiliations too numerous to mention. In 2023, he was honored as Citizen of the Year by the Santa Maria Valley Chamber of Commerce for his many contributions to the community. He is also a member of the Santa Maria Breakfast Rotary. Awaiting the parade Bray told various anecdotes about the history and trivia of Los Alamos. 

This year’s parade Grand Marshals were Dan and Charlene Chabot. The Chabots moved their family to Los Alamos in 1973, just a few years after Dan graduated from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. Dan initially worked for a couple of thelarge defense contractors in Santa Barbara. In 1983, he joined MariPro (marine professionals). MariPro designs,manufactures, and installs shallow and deep-water ocean systems for the U.S. Navy, foreign navies, and commercial clients at unique locations all over the world. Dan retired from L-3 Communications/MariPro in 2019 after over 10years as the vice president/general manager of the MariPro Division. Quickly after moving to Los Alamos, Dan became involved in the community. He was on the Los Alamos Olga Reed school board for over nine years, eight years as the president. Dan also joined the Los Alamos Valley Men’s Club and served a couple of terms as a director. Presently, Dan is on the Board of Directors for the San Antonio Basin Groundwater Sustainability Agency. In addition, Dan is currently the president of the Santa Barbara County Cattlemen’s Association.

The King and Monighetti families led the parade, carrying the U.S. flag, which has been their tradition since 1966. They were followed by four members of the Boots-n-Chutes All Airborne Association from Lompoc, members of the Santa Maria Elks Lodge 1538 Officer Wagon, Supervisor Bob Nelson driving a John Deere tractor, the Grand Marshals Dan and Charlene Chabot, 105.9 Krazy Country, members of the Garcia Dance Studio, Coastal Hay & AG, New Generation Cow Girls, and Coastal Vineyard Care Association riding in a 1949 red Ford truck. Over 50 members of theOrcutt Academy High School Band marched in unison filling the air with music. Then came the Surf Soccer Club, Element Christian Church, 1933 and 1944 John Deere tractors, and Maureen Albrecht riding a 1955 Low Boy tractor. Following the tractors were the Los Alamos Valley Men’s Club, 363 Associates, and the Juan Chavez family participating in remembrance of their father, Miguel Chavez, whose birthday fell on Sept. 28 (He died in 2022 but had enjoyed participating in the Old Days parade). They were followed by El Vogel Villanueva Zacatecas on dancing horses accompanied by a small band, the Depot Bar and the Los Alamos Gallery riding in a vintage caboose, the Klein Dance Arts team, the Gutierrez family with a beautifully dressed woman riding her horse decorated in floral garlands, Righetti FFA, members of the Olga Reed and Orcutt Academy schools, Charlie Gonzales in a 1928 Ford, with the final float from Ballet Folklorico Corazon de la Costa riding their dancing horses.    

The winners of the parade were: Best Use of Theme — Element Christian Church; Best Junior Equestrians — New Generation Cowgirls; Best Equestrian Group — Lienzo Charro, Juan Chavez; Best Military — Boots-n-Chutes; Best Community Service — Righetti FFA; Best Antique Vintage — Charlie Gonzales’ 1929 Model A Ford; Best Performing Group — Ballet Folklorico Corazon de la Costa; Best Grammar School — Olga Reed and Orcutt Academy schools; Best High School — Orcutt Academy High School; Best Tractor — Topa Topa Flywheelers; Best Float — Surf Soccer Club boys and girls.    

“This year’s weekend event was reminiscent of pre-pandemic Old Days,” Williams said. “It was such a great feeling to see the crowds back and enjoying themselves. We are very lucky to have a talented group of volunteers who make the magic happen each year.”

Photos by Devyn Marseilles

Feature image: Members of the Santa Maria Elks Lodge 1538 ride in their Officer Wagon pulled by two horses at the Los Alamos Old Days Parade on Sept. 29.

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For the third straight year, the Red River Ranch in Los Olivos saw its lawn became of sea of cars, from antiques, to race cars, to sleek sports cars, wood-paneled wagons, and some of the old classics, just to name a few. And in the middle was the attention-getter: A sleek, black set of wheels fresh out of the Batcave.

That’s right! For the first time, the original Batmobile — the one designed for the TV show by the late, renowned Hollywood car creator George Barris — front and center at the third annual Cars & Cowboys Car Show on Saturday, Sept. 28.

A healthy crowd descended upon the ranch owned and operated by Al and Denise Frink and enjoyed not only the cars, but food and drink, a show by musician Rich Freeman, a live auction, and music provided again by the Motown sound of the Blue Breeze Band.

And 100 percent of the proceeds went to a worthy cause: the Santa Ynez Valley Meels on Wheels program.

Pam Gnekow, CEO of Santa Ynez Valley Outreach, the organization that run the local Meals on Wheels, addresses the crowd just before the auction part of the event to thank everyone for coming and to explain the necessity of Meals on Wheels.

“I can’t tell you what this means when you see these cars, see these people,” Gnekow said. “I see my friends, I see new friends made since this car shown started.” She then turned to Al and Denise Frink who have held the Cars and Cowboys and said “we couldn’t do this without you. Thank you so much!”

Gnekow went to explained how the Meals and Wheels serves up to 409 meals a day for local seniors, how the City of Buellton helped her find a new building and Santa Barbara County provided money for remodeling. And then she summed up why Meals of Wheels is such an important service for the Valley.

“We gave over 1.9 million pounds of food last year through the program,” she said. “And I still get questioned, ‘do people really need more food,’ and that just burns me, when anybody would stand in line for an hour to get some produce from us, which is what happens.

“So is there enough food? I’m gonna say no. As long as people are standing in line, as long as senior need to be fed we’re going to keep doing it.”

After that address, Gnekow explained how she was able to find a new auctioneer for the live auction about to happen.

“When I was thinking about an auctioneer for this, I thought I’d just really like to have a woman do this,” Gnekow said. “So I started looking, and someone told me there was this real badass woman from Arkansas [actually, Oklahoma] and I contacted and asked her if she would do it, and she said yes.”

With that, Carla Harrison a Cal Poly SLO graduate who now lives in Soper, Oklahoma, (Gnekow later corrected that publicly) took the stage and conducted the subsequent auction of goods, services, and experiences donated by local businesses.

Commenting after the auction, Harrison said she got interesting in calling auctions because her dad did that at livestock shows. She also said she was very receptive from the start to the idea of doing Cars & Cowboys when Gnekow asked her, but a little divine intervention ultimately convinced her to say yes.

“I was close to committing to it, but still wasn’t completely sure, so I prayed on it and then got my Bible,” Harrison said. “I opened the Bible to a random page, and it opened to the book of Numbers, like numbers I’d be yelling out at the auction. It was right then that I had to say yes.”

While the auction was going on in the big tent set up on the Red River Ranch property, there were still people admiring the multitude of cars on the lawn. Two Orange County residents were looking at some of the vehicles, one of was familiar with the property.

“My family’s good friends with Al Frink,” said Brooke Garcia of Newport Beach. “We’ve known him for a long time and they’ve invited us up here a few times and it’s a beautiful place.”

Garcia’s boyfriend Hunter Hesslin, said he enjoyed looking at the cars, but wasn’t as much of an automobile buff as his father.

“Yeah, my Dad is big into cars, so I’m here taking some photos for him,” he said. “I was thrilled to see the Batmobile here like everyone else, but the one I really liked is the Lamborghini they have here.”

Some of the cars had the owners/drivers standing by to talk shop with the attendees. Brian Bolton, who was born in the UK but now lives in Ballard, was showing off his 1968 Land Rover Series 2A, along with his brother-in-law John Harrison.

“This is a 1968, but it evolves from a 1948, which was the first utility vehicle,” Bolton said. “It was a non-runner [non-operational] in England, but we were able to fix it and register it as operational here. It only goes about 45 mph tops, but I use it every two or three days to tow things or just drive it around; fortunately there’s not a lot of traffic where I live.”

While Bolton had his vehicle for this show and even put a rope around the front bumper (“just for the hell of it,” he said), he said he doesn’t bring the Land Rover out for just show too often.

“It’s not about showing; it’s about the experience with the vehicle,” he said. “When I drive it, I see my dad and the feel of it. It’s a connection.”

Those attending the Cars & Cowboys Car Show on Sept. 28, got to see all kinds of cars on the Red River Ranch property. Photos by Mike Chaldu.

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The 78th annual Los Alamos Old Days celebration, a three-day event, was held on the weekend of Sept. 27-29, featuring a Classic Car Show, an Artisan’s Faire, the Old Days Stampede 5K Run, dinner and dancing at the Men’sClub, food, music and games for the children, and the Biggest Little Hometown Parade. The theme of this year’s event was “Past Meets Present, A Time To Remember.” 

“This event is one the community looks forward to each year,” said Kristy Williams, president of the Los Alamos Men’s Club, in her President’s Message. “It is a time to meet up with and celebrate with our neighbors, see people you haven’t seen in a long time, listen to live music, dance, eat good food, watch a parade, see a car show, buy cool things, and most importantly, to just enjoy ourselves.”

“The Los Alamos Men’s Club sponsors the event and the Old Days committee has worked hard to bring our community an Old Days they will be excited about,” continued Williams. “Without their dedication and volunteerism, there would not be a town celebration.”

The festivities began at the Men’s Club on Friday evening with dinner and dancing to the music of Bitter Road Bank, which kept those who wanted to kick up their heels on the dance floor.

The event opened on Saturday with one side of Bell Street lined with an array of vintage and antique cars. Ninety-five vendors lined the opposite side of the street offering their wares with everything from skincare to hot sauce to cupcakes, with jewelry and art, and homemade crafts by local artisans. Children were treated to an array of fun and games, face painting, and bounce houses in Ferrini Park, and a petting zoo and paintball in the parking lot. There were food trucks and tri-tip sandwiches available for hungry attendees. Of course, what would an old-time Western celebration be without Cow Pie Bingo, which was won by Greg Williams from Bakersfield. James Jepsen of Borrowed Time Entertainment was the DJ, entertaining everyone with his large selection of music. 

The winners of the car show are as follows: Best in Show — Mario Angulo’s 1972 Chevrolet K/5 Blazer; Best Hot Rod — Paul Payton’s 1940 Ford Coupe Deluxe; Best Custom — Larry Thompson’s 1972 Chevrolet Blazer; Best Classic Truck — Duane Hammonds’ 1957 Chevrolet 3100 PU Truck; Best Muscle Car — Michael and Diane Stuart’s 1969 Plymouth GTX; Best Rat Rod — Cody Castagna’s 1937 Ford; Best Classic Antique — Robert Mainer’s 1937 Chevrolet Touring Sedan; Best Patina Car or Truck — Chris Cooper’s 1954 Chevrolet 3100; Best Sports Car 2 seater — Jeff Frey’s 1968 Porsche 912; Best Volkswagen — Jamie Verduzco’s 1965 VW Convertible; Best Classic 1930-1940 Roadsters/Coupes — Kenneth Hinge’s 1932 Ford 4-door Sedan; Best Low Rider — Mario Lupercio’s 1965 Chevrolet Impala Convertible and Best Tri Five (all makes) went to Rob Frakes’s 1957 Chevrolet Bel Air.

Photos by Devyn Marseilles.

One of the most unique booths at the Artisan Faire was a remodeled vintage horse trailer called Me & My Flores, a flower bar. 

“We found this trailer in Fresno and fixed it up,” said Angie Leon. “I sell flowers every other Saturday at Trilogy Golf Course in Nipomo. This is the first event I’ve signed up for and it’s been amazing. I opened up in May of 2024.”

Another of the booths was La Dolce Vita, which was manned by owner and baker Melissa Bagley, who sold gluten-free baked goods.

“I’m gluten intolerant and I was having a hard time finding breads and other baked goods that tasted delicious and didn’t cause me stomach upset,” Bagley said. “I started hearing the need from more and more people, so I began offering my baked goods to others and it grew from there.”

The scent of lavender from Santa Rita Hills Lavender Farm wafted on the breeze from the array of lavender products that were for sale. 

“My mom and I started the farm in 2020 in the Santa Rita Hills area,” said Lucas Neumann. “We opened the farm to the public last year with our first lavender festival which was held on July 13, 2024. We will be holding our next festival on July 12, 2025.”

Gisella Carroll of Peruvian Imports offered a variety of handmade items made from the wool of llamas.

“A friend of mine complimented me on a sweater I was wearing that my mother gave me,” she said. “An idea struck me. I took it off and sold it to her. My mother was a little upset but I told her that we would start a company importing clothing, purses, and handmade goods from Peru. We now support 17 Peruvian women who make what we sell and it also allows me to travel to Peru where I am from.”

Saturday came to a close with everyone packing up for the night anticipating the next day’s events, but the fun continued at the Los Alamos Men’s Club with a Cook Your Own Dinner/Dance with live music by The Fossils who played into the night.

Feature image: The Los Alamos Old Days event was very well-attended.

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The Vikings of Solvang are reminding all classic car enthusiasts and community members alike that the much-anticipated Vikings Charities Classic Car Show weekend is rapidly approaching and scheduled for Friday Oct. 18, and Saturday, Oct. 19. 

Kick off the weekend with the Vikings Charities Classic Car Show Gala Dinner from 5 to 9 p.m. Friday, Oct. 18, at the Mendenhall’s Museum of Gasoline Pumps & Petroliana in Buellton. This exciting event promises a delicious barbecue dinner featuring mouthwatering appetizers, succulent New York steaks, fresh salads, and delectable sides, all paired with fine wines from Casa Cassara Winery and Vineyard, refreshing beer from Solvang Brewing Company, and live entertainment by Hayli Carleton. Vegetarian options will also be available to ensure everyone can enjoy this wonderful evening. Tickets are $100 per person.

Then, revel in the display of classic beauty at the 2nd Annual Viking Charities Classic Car Show on Saturday, Oct. 19, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. in downtown Solvang, where attendance is free for the general public and open to all ages. The VCCCS will transform the charming streets of downtown Solvang into a spectacular showcase of automotive history and will include music, a beer and wine garden, vendors and food trucks in Solvang Park, and the famous Vikings of Solvang parade longboat for inspection and tour. More than 200 impeccably restored and customized vehicles are expected to participate, including motorcycles, hot rods, sports cars, muscle cars, and special interest vehicles.

The Vikings Charities Classic Car Show is not only a celebration of automotive culture but also a charitable event. All money raised goes to the Vikings of Solvang Endowment Fund, a 501(c)(3) organization which provides funding for the medically related needs of qualified individuals and healthcare organizations in the Santa Ynez Valley and throughout Santa Barbara County.

The Vikings of Solvang put on the inaugural Vikings Charities Classic Car Show last year in Solvang. The group decided to launch the event to take over for the longtime Wheels ‘n’ Windmills show, which was held in Solvang every year until the organizers decided to retire the event in 2022.

For more information on Vikings Charities and the Vikings Charities Classic Car Show, visit vikingsofsolvang.org/carshow.

Feature image: Cars and spectators line Copenhagen Drive during the First Annual Viking Charities Classic Car Show in Solvang in 2023. Photo Courtesy of the Vikings of Solvang

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Solvang will welcome the new season in true fall style as the village kicks off the 15th Annual Scarecrow Fest and Contest on Tuesday, Oct. 1. During the month-long Scarecrow Fest, which concludes on Halloween (Thursday, Oct. 31), Solvang businesses and organizations will participate in the contest by featuring a scarecrow of their own creation posted at their location. The 2024 festival includes the use of QR codes and a digital voting system, as well as using traditional paper maps and ballots.

Locals, tourists, and area merchants may vote on the contest’s website (SYVscarecrows.com) for Solvang scarecrow winners in six different categories: Best Scarecrow Photo Op, Best Use of Recycled Materials, Best Use of Business Theme, Most Danish, Spookiest, and Most Humorous. Scarecrow maps will also be available on the website and inside local businesses, along with the corresponding QR codes.

Once this year’s Best Solvang Scarecrow has been chosen, the ultimate winner will be announced and celebrated on Thursday, Nov. 14 at Montecito Bank & Trust, located at 591 Alamo Pintado Road in Solvang. The overall winner will receive the contest’s exclusive, handcrafted trophy, the “Harvest Cup” — made by famed blacksmith Hans Duus — which they may keep on display in their place of business until the conclusion of the following year’s contest. Santa Ynez Valley Humane Society was awarded the 2023 Harvest Cup. The mission of the Santa Ynez Valley Humane Society is to serve our community by providing and promoting humane, compassionate, and conscientious care of companion animals.

“This is the 15th year that the [Scarecrow] contest is being celebrated in Solvang, and other Santa Ynez Valley towns have embraced the ‘Fest.'” said Tracy Beard, executive director of the Solvang Chamber of Commerce. “The more that each town gets into this, the better the experience for both locals and visitors, whose community involvement, and visits, respectively, benefit the local economy of the entire Valley.”

The six different Solvang Scarecrow Fest voting categories mentioned above were selected through a conscious effort to nurture friendly competition and community among Solvang locals, to highlight the unique traits that Solvang possesses, and to encourage mindful, eco-conscious creativity. Past years’ Scarecrow Fests have received far-reaching publicity, with visitors coming from as far away as Alaska.

Questions about the 2024 Solvang Scarecrow Fest plans may be directed to the Solvang Chamber at mitzi@solvangchamber.com. Updated information about this year’s Solvang Scarecrow Fest will continue to be posted at SYVscarecrows.com.

Feature Image: CASA of Santa Barbara County got creative with its display outside its Solvang office last year during the Scarecrow Fest and Contest.

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The 87th annual Solvang Danish Days, a three-day cultural event, was held Sept. 20-22 in celebration of the establishment of Solvang by Danish Americans in 1911. The multiple weekend events were well attended and filled with fun, food, Æbleskiver Eating and Lego Building Contests, axe-throwing, street vendors, multiple festivities, parades, the Danish Maid, live entertainment, street dancing, and family activities, offering attendees a total Danish experience. The theme of this year’s event was “Det Dansk, Det Dejligt” — “It’s Danish, it’s delightful!”

One of the highlights of the event was the Danish Days Parade. Approximately 30 floats, festooned in Danish flags, with participants wearing colorful Danish garb, took part in the parade. The Color Guard was in the lead, ushering in the Danish Maid, Kaeley Reid, who was followed by the Nordhoff High School Rangers Marching Band. John Clark, riding in a vintage pink Thunderbird portrayed the celebrated author, Hans Christian Andersen, wearing his top hat. He was followed by a group of young dancers from Cruz Dance Production performing the Mexican Hat Dance. 

The Carlsberg Pilsner Beer Wagon passed by filled with members of the Solvang Village Band, while the Danish bakers float titled “Danish and Delightful” passed out Danish cookies to the crowd. The parade continued with float entries by the Solvang Visitors Center, Bethania Lutheran Church, Viking Charities, the Vikings of Solvang Ship, Rio Vista, and Figueroa Mountain Brewery carrying a band playing rock and roll, along with the Figueroa Mountain Brewery’s colorful bus following behind. 

Residents of the Atterdag Village of Solvang waved to the crowd while the Solvang Trolley played Judy Garland’s “The Trolley Song” from the 1944 film, “Meet Me in St. Louis.” A float featuring the Marguerite Daisy, Denmark’s national flower, came next with its members passing out small bouquets of daisies. Members of the Solvang Rotary followed with music played by the Santa Ynez Valley Jazz band and a tiled float created by Padilla Tile & Construction depicting Hans Christian Andersen’s classic stories. 

Students from the Solvang Charter School waved enthusiastically as an array of scooters fluttered Danish flags. Next came Highline Adventures, motorcyclists wearing Viking helmets, groups of people walking, and bringing up the rear, was an enormous Karoline Cow float which is one of the Danish Dairies’ most famous trademarks along with several “cows” in costume.

Photography by Devyn Marseilles and Mike Chaldu

Awards were handed out for a variety of categories:

• Bethania Lutheran Church — Best Family/Group entry
• Figueroa Mountain Brewing Co. Band — Best Musical entry
• Carlsberg Beer Wagon — Best Equestrian/Animal entry
• Solvang Visitor Center — Best Miscellaneous entry
• Nielsen Building Materials, “Karoline the Cow,” —Sweepstakes winner (Best Overall)

“It’s always fun to be Danish for a day,” hollered a young woman wearing a Viking helmet, skipping down the sidewalk draped in a Danish flag that was blowing in the wind. 

The parade on Saturday was not the only one for the weekend: On Friday evening, the first of the Danish Days, attendees were invited to take part in the Torchlight Parade, in which participants marched through town in a candlelight procession. On Sunday was the children’s parade with kids and their families going from Atterdag Road to Copenhagen Drive, andending in Solvang Park.

On both Saturday and Sunday, the event saw the renewal of the annual Danish Days Æbleskiver Eating Contest. Bothdays, competitions were held for those 16 and under, and then for contestants 16 and up, with anyone invited to sign up.There was a little twist this year: On Saturday, contestants were allowed to use their hands to feed themselves the delicious balls of pancake dough topped with with jam, but on Sunday, they were prohibited from using their hands.

Saturday’s contests saw 13-year-old Clayton Johnson, from Santa Maria win the 16-and-under contest by downing 12 aebleskiver, while Maxi Von Wedczeck, 25, from Germany by way of San Francisco, won the adult version by eating 14 aebleskiver. 

The adult contest included competitive eater Naader Reda, who downed 12 in the adult contest. Reda admitted he was”disappointed” in his performance, although he entered it on an informal basis, rather than a contracted competitor, but hesaid he is open to return.

On Sunday, 8-year-old Valerie Roylance, of Buellton, won the 16-and-under contest with six aebleskiver eaten, while Robbie Theis, 22, of Lompoc, and Lawrence Marston, of Buellton, who each ate 10.

Marston competed in the adult competition after his two children, Channing and Hunter, took part in the kids’ contest.

“I wasn’t really planning to go up there,” Marston said. “But then, my kids came over after being in their contest and convinced to go do it too.”

Another staple of Danish Days has been the Lego Building Contest (as Legos are a Danish product) between professional builders. 

In this year’s contest, organizers assigned each of the three builders a specific windmill in town to base their work around.

Jesse Gros, of Venice Beach, captured first-place honors for the second year in a row with his Solvang Brewing Co.-inspired windmill packed with Solvang and Santa Ynez Valley icons, landmarks, and nods.

The other participants were Suzanne Hansen (who tied with Gros for first place last year, who created a Hamlet Square-inspired windmill, with a Danish Christmas theme inside and out, and Chris Wight, with his build inspired by the bigAlisal Road windmill.

Danish Days was an event that had a little something for everyone. Kids were enjoying building at the Lego table or at the play area at the other end of Solvang Park. People of all ages were entertained by acts such as comedy jugglers Scott and Trink (aka Scott Meltzer and Katrine Spang-Hanssen), bands like Terry and the Ripleys on the park gazebo, or the Danish dancers on Copenhagen. And, anyone craving some aebleskiver (perhaps with a side of sausage) could go over to the outdoor kitchen and get a plate.

For all, the weekend definitely lived up to its theme, “It’s Danish, it’s delightful!”

Photography by Devyn Marseilles and Mike Chaldu

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Wine and film have long had a symbiotic relationship, with their rich narratives and sensory experiences providing an intoxicating blend for enthusiasts of both worlds. In Sideways Uncorked, film critic Kirk Honeycutt and wine journalist Mira Advani Honeycutt explore the remarkable intersection of these two passions through the lens of Sideways, Alexander Payne’s 2004 critically acclaimed film. This dynamic work not only chronicles the making of the film but also examines its profound influence on the wine industry, particularly in the Santa Barbara region.

At its heart, Sideways tells the story of two middle-aged men, Miles and Jack, as they embark on a weeklong road trip through California’s wine country. While the narrative explores friendship, love, and midlife crises, it’s the film’s backdrop—the Santa Barbara wine country—and its homage to Pinot Noir that has left a lasting cultural impact. The Honeycutts’ book unpacks this journey, revealing how a film based on an unpublished novel by Rex Pickett became a pop-culture sensation and transformed the wine landscape.

The story behind Sideways is as fascinating as the film itself. Rex Pickett, a disillusioned ex-filmmaker, channeled his frustrations and love for wine into a novel that Payne saw cinematic potential in. The result was a film that captured both critical and commercial success, winning an Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay and catapulting Santa Barbara’s wine country onto the global stage.

What sets Sideways Uncorked apart is its dual exploration of both the film’s production and the wine industry before and after its release. Before Sideways, Santa Barbara wine country was a hidden gem, appreciated primarily by insiders. However, after the film’s release, it became a mecca for oenophiles and tourists alike, eager to experience the beauty of the vineyards and the complexity of the wines highlighted in the film.

Pinot Noir, in particular, saw a meteoric rise in popularity thanks to the film’s protagonist, Miles, who passionately extolled its virtues. Conversely, the film’s derision of Merlot, encapsulated in the now-iconic line, “I am not drinking any [expletive] Merlot!” caused a significant dip in its sales. Through interviews with winemakers, restaurateurs, and wine enthusiasts, the Honeycutts delve into these fascinating shifts in consumer preferences and the lasting effects on the wine industry.

In addition to rich narrative content, Sideways Uncorked is packed with special features designed to engage both cinephiles and wine aficionados. The book includes a curated list of wine recommendations from various regions, allowing readers to sip along as they explore the story. Behind-the-scenes photos from the film’s production also offer a visual feast for fans, providing glimpses of the movie’s iconic locations and the people who brought it to life.

Kirk Honeycutt’s extensive background in film criticism lends depth to the cinematic analysis of Sideways, while Mira Advani Honeycutt’s decades of experience as a wine journalist provide expert insights into the intricacies of winemaking. Together, they offer a comprehensive look at how one film reshaped both Hollywood and the world of wine. Their combined expertise makes Sideways Uncorked a unique and engaging read, perfectly blending the art of storytelling with the craft of winemaking.

Whether you’re a movie lover, a wine connoisseur, or simply someone who appreciates a well-told story, Sideways Uncorked promises to offer a fascinating and flavorful journey through one of the most iconic films and wine regions of our time.

You can preorder Sideways Uncorked on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, or by visiting rowman.com. The book will be released on Nov. 5.

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A previously vacant lot, located at the corner of Central Avenue and 2nd Street in Buellton, now promises to be the hub of activity, thanks to a gardener with a vision and a number of organizers and volunteers. Oh, and a little bit of help from the city.

The nonprofit Buellton Community Garden (BCG), more than five years in the making, hosted an official kickoff at the lot located a block west of Avenue of Flags on Saturday, Sept. 7. Artist Annie Yakutis and her husband, Greg Erickson, hosted the reception, which included such local luminaries as County Supervisor Joan Hartmann, and Mayor Dave King, City Councilmembers Elysia Lewis and David Silva, and City Manager Scott Wolfe from Buellton.

“It’s been a great turnout,” Annie said. “This is an exciting moment, we’re meeting each other [volunteers] for the first time, pretty much.” Yakutis said. “This is very much promoting an in-person kind of activity — it’s not virtual.

“But I’m the most excited about, in the future, seeing more people here all the time.”

The Buellton Community Garden (BCG) has 46 gardening beds available, with a handful already reserved. Two of the beds are ADA-compliant. While Buellton residents will have first dibs on securing a garden bed, anyone is welcome to apply.

The seeds of a local community garden were planted after Yakutis and Erickson moved to Buellton in 2010. An artist and Master Gardener, Yakutis slowly restored the native habitat alongside the leased industrial space she used for a studio, transforming the space into a lush

— albeit diminutive — habitat for birds, bees and butterflies as well as a lovely, shady spot to sit.

As the pandemic took shape in early 2020, Yakutis took “long, meandering walks” around town, picking up trash and scrutinizing the various gardens — noticing what vegetables, fruits, and flowers thrived and what struggled.

“Eventually, I started taking longer walks and bike rides to find other ‘garden’ spots,” Yakutis said. “And I came upon one at a home in the Zaca Creek area, and they had these beautiful hollyhocks, and somehow that gave me the idea to pursue this project.”

By November 2020, Yakutis built a small shade structure behind their industrial building and started a native plant propagation project for her own Guerilla Gardens. Noey Turk of Yes Yes Nursery mentored her. By March of 2021, Yakutis was a regular attendee at the city’s Green Team meetings, had connected with potential collaborators and had developed renderings of her vision for the garden.

In April 2021, Yakutis presented her concept for the city’s Second and Central site to the Buellton City Council and received unanimous support. After a few more steps taken, the City Council voted in October 2022 to allow the BCG to use the lot and have water for 10 years.

Mayor King, who would later say a few words during the public address at the event, praised the garden, calling it”awesome.”

“I remember being shown this vacant lot that was owned by the city, and thinking ‘what the heck are we going to do with this,'” King said. “I mean it was an eyesore, and it was empty for a long time.

“But then they came to us with this project, and I told them that was perfect. I go to other places, and I see community gardens, and I think ‘there you go, people using a little land to benefit the entire community.”

Yakutis said the project really picked up in the past year when Erickson became president of the BCG board.

Greg Erickson said he had left his career in homebuilding and was looking for something to do.

“I always felt the community needed … something,” he said. “There was something I could do, I didn’t know what, but then this garden came along.”

Then, attending one of the board meetings for the garden, Erickson decided to get more involved.

“I went to the one of the first board meetings, and everybody had ideas of how to get the paperwork done, but nobody knew how to build it,” he said. “So I told Annie I’d be glad to get involved in the project if I could design it, and it was a done deal.”

Yanukis also wanted to credit the City of Buellton, the Arts and Culture Committee, the Chumash Foundation, Central Coast Agriculture, Gracie Foundation, and Lois and Steve Craig for their help throughout the project. Many small plaques are on the fence around the garden from people who took part in the fence panel donation drive.

Now that the garden is ready to go, Erickson has big plans.

“People are reserving their plots here, but my wife and I are going to keep a couple of them community, and when that’sharvested, we’ll have a table out front to put them on, and people in the neighborhood can take what they want,” he said. “We’re going to have a lot of tomatoes, we’re going to have peppers. Melons. Watermelons. Zucchinis are out of control; we have to harvest the zucchinis all the time.” Erickson also pointed out a currently empty fences that will be a”berry wall,” for, you guessed it, berries.

One other thing Erickson wants for this garden is for it to be a vehicle to bring people together.

“We’ve been polarized in society, with the elections and all that, and I think this is the perfect venue,” he said.

For more information on the garden, go to buelltongarden.org/ or

facebook.com/BuelltonGarden

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The Vikings of Solvang, a social and philanthropic organization known for their commitment to community service and health-care initiatives, are proud to announce their upcoming Community Blood Drive. This crucial, life-saving event is set for Sept. 25 from 1 to 6 p.m. at the Solvang Veterans Memorial Hall, located at 1745 Mission Drive, in Solvang.

This blood drive represents a vital opportunity for the community to come together and provide much-needed support to local hospitals facing ongoing blood supply shortages. The Vikings of Solvang, with their long-standing tradition of giving back, see this event as an essential part of their mission to offer critical medical assistance to those in need.

“Every drop counts,” said Larry Humburger, chief of the Vikings of Solvang. “As the demand for blood in our local hospitals remains high, we urge our friends, neighbors, and fellow community members to join us in making a significant, life-saving impact.”

All eligible donors aged 18 and older are strongly encouraged to participate. Whether you’re a first-time donor or a seasoned contributor, your donation could save up to three lives. The donation process is simple and safe. Plus, all participants will receive a $25 voucher, redeemable that same night or the following day at participating local restaurants and bakeries, courtesy of the Vikings of Solvang.

“Bring a friend, donate together, and enjoy a meal on us afterward!” said Kim Jensen, the Vikings’ Blood Drive co-chairman. “This initiative thrives on the generosity of the Santa Ynez Valley community, and our dinner voucher is our way of saying thank you for your support — and for giving the gift of life to those in need.”

How to Participate

Pre-register: Walk-ins are welcome, but pre-registration is encouraged to reduce wait times. Visit donors.vitalant.org and enter blood drive code 1081 to schedule your donation time.

Bring ID: Please bring a photo ID and be sure to hydrate before donating.

The Vikings of Solvang have partnered with Vitalant Blood Donation to ensure the drive is conducted safely and efficiently, with all necessary health protocols in place.

Since its founding in 1974, the Vikings of Solvang has provided over $3 million in medical aid. With members covering all operating costs, every dollar donated goes directly to helping those in need.

For more information about the Vikings of Solvang Blood Drive, please contact Kim Jensen at (805) 266-8768.

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California’s premier Danish heritage festival, Solvang Danish Days (SolvangDanishDays.org), is coming this weekend, Sept. 20-22, and this year’s event will see the return of two favorites: the two-day Lego Building Competition, and the Aebleskiver Eating Contest, which will see the return of last year’s winner, competitive eater and internet sensation Raina Huang. And Huang will have some competition as another competitive eater, Naader Reda (@, will be appearing at his first Danish Days.

The family-friendly Lego Building Competition will take place will be held Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 21-22, as part of the three-day festival weekend.

The event will feature three of California’s stars in the brick-building world, who will compete against each other as they construct their own takes on supersized versions of three of Solvang’s iconic windmills. The Lego Building Competition kicks off on Saturday, Sept. 20, at 10 a.m., as the builders begin their projects. Stationed in Solvang Park, at the heart of the unique destination marked by European architecture and fairy tale ambiance, Saturday’s build will run through 4 p.m. The public is welcome to spectate free of charge as the invited pros craft their building block windmill scenes.

Sunday, Sept. 22, brings more in-town building from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., a judging period that starts at 1:30 p.m., followed by a 3 p.m. winner announcement for the best build, which will occur during the Solvang Danish Days Closing Ceremony in Solvang Park. The building competition winner will be awarded a cash prize.

The 2024 Solvang Danish Days LEGO Building Competition builders are as follows:

• Chris Wight – first-place winner in 2022 Solvang Danish Days LEGO Building Competition: Wight, also the first-place winner in Solvang’s April 2022 town-wide Lego Building Competition, has had his brick workfeatured online, in kids’ TV shows, in magazines and more.

• Jesse Gros – Tied for first place in 2023 Solvang Danish Days LEGO Building Competition: Gros is a life coach, international retreat leader, and author who rediscovered Lego seven years ago with his daughter, Devon. He is an avid builder known for creating large-scale, custom builds, combining steampunk, pirate, and fantasy genres.

• Suzanne Hansen – Tied for first place in 2023 Solvang Danish Days LEGO Building Competition: By day, Suzanne Hansen is an engineer for Kern County. She is also a designer who enjoys using paper and Legos to create, especially after catching the “bug” in 2017 when she built a model of “The Very Hungry Caterpillar.”

Also returning to this year’s Danish Days weekend is Raina Huang (@rainaiscrazy), who will once again travel to the Santa Ynez Valley to compete in the event weekend’s Aebleskiver Eating Contests.

Huang’s first appearance at the Solvang Danish Days Aebleskiver Eating Contest was in September 2018, when she broke all modern Solvang Danish Days records by consuming 36 of the doughy pastry balls in the five-minute competition. 

Joining Huang this year in the friendly competition is eating challenger Naader Reda (@freakeating), participating in his first Solvang Danish Days Aebleskiver Eating Contest.

Both contests (Saturday and Sunday, September 21 and 22, 2024) are free to enter, all ages are welcome, and the public is invited to compete alongside Huang and Reda. Prizes will be awarded to non-professional eaters in two separate age groups, for both days. The all-you-can-eat five-minute contests will be held at 11:30 a.m. in the Midgaard Pavilion in Parking Lot 2, in downtown Solvang, adjacent to the Danish Days Viking Beer & Wine Garden (Copenhagen Drive, between First and Second Streets; must be 21 years or older to enter Viking Beer & Wine Garden).

Ticket sales for the Solvang Danish Days 2024 “Dane For A Day” VIP ticket bundle (only available online), as well as advance, online tickets for the Saturday and/or Sunday Æbleskiver Breakfasts, are currently available for purchase at Solvang-Danish-Days-2024.eventbrite.com

Admission to Solvang Danish Days is free and the weekend’s varied offerings include activities for all ages ranging from fan-favorite food events surrounding Æbleskiver, the iconic Danish pastry rounds; to a Danish-style beer and wine garden serving Danish import, Carlsberg beer, alongside local brews, wines and festival eats; to an axe throwing arena; interactive history lessons at the Elverhøj Museum of History & Art; story time sessions with Hans Christian Andersen; and, an Old World artisanal crafts marketplace.

Solvang Danish Days also includes plentiful free entertainment with three parades, Danish folk dancers and musicians performing in locations all over town, plus free, live concerts on the Midgaard Pavilion Stage in the middle of downtown Solvang, adjacent to the Viking Beer & Wine Garden. Solvang Danish Days will also feature an expanded “Kid’s Korner” this year, which will once again include the popular, and shaded, LEGO® activity tent.

Event weekend updates will be posted to the Solvang Danish Days Facebook and Instagram feeds at facebook.com/SolvangDanishDays and @DanishDays.

The partial 2024 Solvang Danish Days event weekend schedule is available online, at SolvangDanishDays.org.

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