Concerned about having a good time with out spending money? Leave your wallet in your pocket and follow some of suggested free things to due on the Santa Barbara tourism website, www.santabarbara.com. Bulging with cost free adventures and sights to see Santa Barbara has plenty to do. So don’t fret when it comes time for a steamy date or it becomes too cold for beach days; look into the following and you will find ways to entertain without spending. Whether it be an exploration with friends or some quality time with a significant other it’s important to look beyond the bubble within the bubble, Isla Vista, and see the sights and locations in Santa Barbara and the greater area.

All Photos by Brennan Peggs

According to the National Cancer Institute, one in eight women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in her life. With this truth in mind, UCSB students came out in full force for Breast Cancer Awareness Month, sporting everything from “I «3 Boobies” pins to literature about breast cancer prevention. 

Here’s what happened during October, or Breast Cancer Awareness month:

Dash 

Kappa Kappa Gamma had their fourth annual, 5-kilometer Kappa Dash on Oct. 17, where participants started at Greek Park on Picasso and wound their way through parts of Isla Vista and UCSB, finally ending at the Kappa Kappa Gamma house. Participants were asked to donate $12 to enter with all of the proceeds going to the Susan G. Komen Foundation and the Santa Barbara Breast Cancer Early Detection Program. 

Over 60 organizations were represented at the event, including 24 Hour Fitness, Santa Barbara Bank and Trust, and Radisson Hotels and Resorts. Food, prizes, activities, and a DJ were present to encourage people to join.

 Hope 

First year sorority, Sigma Lambda Gamma, and Pink Link Breast Cancer and Research Club teamed up to host an educational talk and candle-light vigil on Oct. 22 from 7:30-10 p.m. in the Anacapa Formal Lounge and patio area. Buttons that said “I «3 Bobbies” were given out as prizes and the Anacapa Residence Hall sold t-shirts. Free food was donated from local Isla Vista businesses, like IV Drip. 

The evening started off with UCSB Molecular, Cellular, and Development Biology professor, Dr. George Ayoub, speaking to a crowd of 50 men and women about what cancer is and outside influences that can increase the risk of acquiring cancer. After the talk, the large group broke off into four smaller groups to talk about breast cancer facts and how everyday cosmetics, as well as poor diet and lack of exercise, can increase the risk of this condition.

A candle-light vigil followed, where everyone was presented with a candle upon moving to the outdoor patio area. Each person then stated what breast cancer meant to them and put their candle down to form the shape of a ribbon.

 Fundraise 

Alpha Kappa Delta Phi held a fundraiser inside the Student Resource Building’s multipurpose room on Oct. 28 from 10-3 p.m., where they sold t-shirts, bracelets, and raffle tickets to raise money for Susan G. Komen. They offered free food and asked for the pink lids of the yogurts they distributed. 

They also invited other clubs and organizations to come table at the event. 

“Alpha Kappa Delta Phi contacted us and asked us to table for this event, which is breast cancer fundraising,” said Taylor Braun, the Pink Link Public Relations Chair. “We gave out our educational material and talked to people about our Beautiful You Campaign.” Alpha Kappa Delta Phi had a PowerPoint presentation that they showed, including frequently asked questions about breast cancer.

 Promote 

On Oct. 21, the UCSB Activities Fair hosted various college organization booths, including those belonging to Colleges Against Cancer, Sigma Lamda Gamma, and Pink Link. These cancer-related organizations were giving out information and literature about breast cancer awareness and research that has been going on in the community.

Run 

The Santa Barbara Cancer Center hosted their 17th Annual Run/Walk in Downtown Santa Barbara on Oct. 18 starting at 8 a.m. This was the first time that UCSB students were represented in the race and each were given a $100 sponsorship from former UCSB faculty member, Carla Witacre. Two members of Pink Link Club were sent to the race: Paula Higginson and Daisy Bugarin. 

“It was a lot of fun,” Higginson said. “There was a good energy. It was nice to see a bunch of people coming together for one cause.” 

This was the first race that either student had participated in while living in Santa Barbara and both claim to have had a memorable experience. 

“We were walking down this hill and when you looked up, you could see so many people,” said Bugarin. “It really sunk in how many people were there; there’s no way to describe it.” 

The CCSB Run/Walk website reported that over $131,000 was raised, all of which is going to the Cancer Center of Santa Barbara research program.

For those who want to get involved in breast cancer awareness, there are activities, events, and seminars that aren’t just in October. 

UCSB Professor, Erkki Ruoslahti, received a $2.8 million award from the Department of Defense to further his research on the detection and therapies via nanotechnology for breast cancer. 

“We envision that the cure for breast cancer can be achieved by strategically integrating early detection with synergistic therapies,” said Ruoslahti in a press release. “We believe that nanotechnology-based engineering solutions can provide the needed changes to drastically improve cure rates.” 

Relay for Life is another way that students can get involved. This year, Relay will be on May 14, 2010 at the UCSB Track. Relay is held by the American Cancer Society and is a 24-hour event in which each team is given a set amount of money to raise in order to participate. Teams can be campus clubs, residence halls, sororities/fraternities, or just a group of friends! 

The Santa Barbara Breast Cancer Resource Center on West Junipero St. in Downtown Santa Barbara has a series of lectures and events that they host throughout the year. To find out more about what will be going on in the future, visit their website at www.bcrcsb.org . 

Students can also join on-campus clubs whose mission is to fight breast cancer.

Stars2½ out of 4 

Stars: 2½ out of 4 
Dogtown, 888 Embarcadero del Norte, Isla Vista 

http://dogtowniv.com/  

             A new pack of dogs has arrived in Isla Vista – diverse, growing in number, and occasionally covered in guacamole. Dogtown, located on the corner of Pardall and Embarcadero del Norte, marks the restaurant debut of former UCSB student Grant Robertson – an ambition he has held since his early college years following a visit to a Berkeley sausage/hot dog restaurant while traveling with the tennis team. The menu for this new establishment, which also serves alcohol, indicates that this is not just your average hot dog stand; Fennel Asiago and Mango Habanero are two chicken examples, while Bavarian Bratwurst is currently the only pork option on the menu. Robertson’s goal is to promote the traditional I.V. dining experience of selecting and customizing, with customers “throwing whatever they want,” in terms of toppings and additions, on their basic order. 

             Accustomed to a relatively simple combination of ketchup, sausage, butter and white bread, I approached these titles enthusiastically, and opted for a California Dreamin’ – a combination of the Mango Habanero hot dog, guacamole, and bacon. I was impressed with the size and texture of the “stadium roll” bap, which was large enough to accommodate its contents, yet could easily be tidily consumed. Although the sausage itself was pleasantly spicy, agreeing very well with the flavor and texture of the guacamole, I found it difficult to detect more than a hint of fruit. My fellow diners, meanwhile, opted for the Fennel Italiano, commended for its high quality and lack of fat, and the Smoked Chicken Apple, which the diner felt, again, lacked the expected fruity compliment to the savory chicken flavor. Based on these experiences, I would highly recommend putting at least one form of topping with the sausage, as the flavors may be too subtle to hold out on their own, and depending on your taste, could end up seeming a bit plain. 

             Only in existence since October 11th, 2009, the restaurant is fast finding its feet, and has several menu additions in the pipeline, including an imminent vegetarian sausage which will be available by the time this goes to print (Robertson is open to other vegetarian options from the hot-dog loving herbivores among us). A wheat bun is also in the works, and the menu choices are expected to grow in number as the establishment develops – including the addition of a second pork variety, the British Banger. 

The side order of Dogtown Fries – a combination of chili and guacamole heaped on top of very tasty cross-cut fries – provoked the most praise; it delivered an excellent blend of flavors, and proved a substantial meal in itself. Another side order consisted of a very generous portion of onion rings. Though definitely not a bar (I was surprised when I heard that alcohol was available), alcoholic drinks can be consumed in or outside the restaurant, and the kind of food offered here would provide a very good compliment to a glass of beer – they have three varieties on draft, and more bottled brands. Sitting out in the sunshine, watching the world go by made for a very laid-back dining experience, and though there were a few hiccups with menu comprehension, the service was quick and efficient. As far as I.V. pricing goes, this is probably reasonable enough – provided you make full use of the toppings available. Seven dollars should keep you going for quite a while, and I imagine the food here would be brilliant for taming a furiously growling stomach in the early hours of the morning.

Austin has City Limits. San Francisco has Noise Pop. Now, Santa Barbara has its very own brand of a multi-venue, multi-night music festival featuring largely unknown bands gracing our city. The New Noise Music Conference and Festival held its first annual gathering on the weekend of October 5th and 6th, and altogether was a major success.

Of course, there were the occasional fans trying to stand on drum kits and falling off, or moments of Har Mar Superstar’s Sean Tillman taking it a step too far with his own brand of crazy. With these adding to the controlled chaos, both Friday and Saturday night were pure energy, fun, and all in all, a hell of a good time.

Aside from the live music, New Noise differs from other festivals in that it has a conference to assist many of the bands and people trying to make it in the industry on the coming changes in the music business. These different panels included everything from making events more environmentally friendly, to spreading band awareness, to protecting music. Through the use of online advertising, as opposed the more traditional flyering, solar panel devices to power venues, and bio-diesel to gas up tour buses, bands can attempt to lower their carbon footprints without threatening their own success. Other panel topics included receiving recognition from record labels and A&Rs, as well as getting one’s music known publicly while simultaneously protecting it from copyright infringment.

Jeff Theimer, the man responsible for creating New Noise, brought in Pandora founder Tim Westegren as the keynote speaker to address the constantly changing technology in the music industry. He spoke on the importance of keeping up to date on technical matters, as it makes the difference to small unsigned bands in getting their name out to the public. The panels also helped to explain different online music revolutions and how to use them to a band’s advantage.

Along with all that information, there was actually music played. Some of the finer shows included sets by lesser known bands The Outline and The Growlers:

The Outline had a very different live sound than the recordings would lead the listener to believe. Their recordings have a very true alternative rock sound to them whereas their live shows have a bit of an Interpol sound but with a little more pop to it. It was quite an awe inspiring show as they flawlessly glided from one song to the next (once they got their sound issues figured out). Adding to the show was great lighting, which may not seem consequential but when playing music in a half-assed attempt at a music venue, the lights can take you to the venue that these future starts should be playing. Key track: “Why We’re Better Now”

Another amazing set happened on Saturday night—a mind-blowing band from Costa Mesa, The Growlers. They came in with a thunderous clash of blues, psychedelic, and riffs reminiscent of Dick Dale. They brought an energy that is seen in shows by the likes of Kasabian or Pennywise (say what you want, but they bring it). Their stage demeanor, crowd interaction, and the pure urge from the crowd to hear what was coming next, makes missing this show next time, out of the question. Key tracks: “Old Cold River” and “Soul of Coral”

And for those wondering: yes, Har Mar Superstar was there. It was the typical antics but a short Ron Jeremy with no clothes, completely shithoused, is worth a mention, simply for comedy’s sake. But when most of us go to a show, we want something that’s gonna make us feel better, not a Ron Jeremy look-a-like rubbing up on us. Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros were there too. They played a good show but nothing that overhype couldn’t kill.

     On May 27, 2009, Mobile Assault Platoon 4 was living in the sands about 10 miles south of Fallujah, Iraq, in support of Operation Polaris. Thirteen Marines and one Navy Corpsman were relaxing and quietly talking in the shade next to four up-armored vehicles.  Suddenly, three 105mm rockets screamed overhead and burrowed, unexploded, into the soft sand about 50 meters behind.  As I took cover, I remembered a conversation I had had with my mom on the phone two weeks earlier. I had reassured her that I’m probably safer turning 21 in Iraq than in Isla Vista.

     In September 2006, I was a resident of Camuesa House in Manzanita Village. I had a view of the ocean, a car, and my parents would pay the bills for one year. However, as so many well-off kids do, I still complained about everything.  Ugh…10am classes are too early. OMG the dining commons are so far away.  I rarely went to class because 50 minutes of lecture was just too long.  Feeling that my life would just fall into place, a lack of motivation had overrun my body. Grow up, go to and graduate from college, get a job, get married, and die.  Despite being given great advantages in life, there was something missing: perspective.

     On Memorial Day in 2006, USA Today featured a huge picture on the front page of a Marine being carried out of an Iraqi house, soaked in blood and with a pistol gripped in his hand.  It was 1^st Sergeant Bradley Kasal (USMC), who received the Navy Cross (the second highest military medal) for heroism while fighting insurgents in Fallujah.  He had been shot seven times and hit with over forty grenade fragments while shielding fellow Marines.  Now, 1^st Sergeant Kasal is just happy to be alive every day. The best perspective one can have on life.

     After reading the Kasal story, I went on a quest to get some perspective.  I called the Marine Corp recruiting office in Santa Barbara and told them I wanted to be a Marine Infantryman.  A few days after school ended in June ’07, I was in an entirely new world: the infamous Marine Corp boot camp in San Diego, where boys are turned in killing machines. Thirteen weeks of early wake-ups, short haircuts and constant yelling gave me my first taste of a difficult life.  Most kids my age spent the summer at the beach, with little jobs and getting ready for the next year of school.  I had become a Marine with orders for war.   

              Between the time that I had joined the Marines and landed in Iraq, the situation had changed.  Iraq had become a somewhat calm combat zone where I could be put up on murder charges for killing the wrong person.  The actions of the three men in my vehicle could also land me in prison.  It seemed staying out of trouble was more important than killing the enemy.  My training taught me to never hesitate, to never think twice, but to react swiftly with concentrated devastation.  In boot camp, when you hesitate during an obstacle, or at the door of the gas chamber, as I did, the Drill Instructors scream “Hesitate and PEOPLE DIE!”  However, this war game was much more complicated.   

     Most Marines want a “kill” while they’re deployed in a combat zone.  For others,  the priority is simply making it home. I just wanted my experience to make IV and college seem easy.  And in that respect, it was an astounding success.  In Iraq in 2009, there was no more high-intensity combat where bombs were going off everywhere and bullets were flying, but just combating sand storms and 120 degree heat with 70 lbs of bulky gear on makes anything seem easy. After several months of rockets, snipers and IEDs, I was back at Camp Pendleton, CA.  My company came home in one piece, and it was as if we never left.

     After returning to IV this fall for a couple weeks of drinking and partying, I wanted to go back.  War produces unrivaled camaraderie among a platoon of men.  Men at war know more about each other than couples who have been married for 50 years.  Nobody in the world would go more out of their way to help another in need.  There’s something about reality that gets lost in IV.  Most people act in an artificial, self-centered way and find that doing something for the benefit of another is preposterous. Typical behavior when you have no perspective on life.  

The Economist occasionally publishes a Big Mac Index, which follows the retail price of a McDonald’s Big Mac in several countries charted against current exchange rates. In theory, the price of this most prominent of hamburgers provides some indicator of the actual purchasing power of the local currency. However, I would submit that in Southern California, the cost of a taco will tell you a lot more about a town.

It is no secret that Santa Barbara is a rather affluent community, simultaneously serving as a college town, a retirement community, and a weekend getaway for the rich and famous. None of these groups are especially strapped for cash, and therefore all are apparently willing to pay a lot for a taco, a fact that has resulted in extreme taco-flation. For instance, take the venerable Taqueria in downtown Santa Barbara, La Super Rica. Their chewy handmade corn tortillas and nicely seasoned meats draw lines of customers nearly every day. It is no surprise that this was Julia Childs’ favorite place. But at $2.75 a taco, it can add up to an expensive obsession. Now that is not expensive in the absolute sense, but there is just something implicitly, gut-wrenchingly aversive about paying over $10 for three tacos and a drink.

Another factor contributing to taco-flation, in addition to the population’s willingness to pay, is a lack of specialization. The culinary foci of so many taquerias in town go way beyond tacos. Where are the taquerias in Santa Barbara that focus just on slinging tacos, but do it well and on the cheap? Until one fortunate night, I thought such a thing did not exist here.

Stumbling around an area of downtown Santa Barbara marked more by posh spas and trendy yoga studios, the last thing I expected to find was an authentic taco joint. I was lured over by a neon sign declaring “tacos,” to a building that screamed bourgeois, faux-run down mediocrity, serving Pabst Blue Ribbon and Pinot Grigio to wash down overpriced hemp tacos. Fortunately, my apprehensions were misguided. I found myself staring slack-jawed at a large overhead menu simply stating: “Authentic Tacos, $1.40, Beef, Marinated Pork, Steamed Beef, Head, Cheek, Lip, Tongue, Eye.” Okay, I’m in.

Lily’s Tacos, tucked in next to the 101 highway at the very end of Chapala Street, arrived on the scene about five years ago. It started as a small storefront and expanded three times, and is now the size of a proper restaurant. The menu, as reproduced above, can get adventurous. On account of their reasonable prices, I have been lured back many times and, well, it’s all pretty good. While the tortillas are almost certainly not made in house here, the open kitchen adjacent to the register assures that almost everything else is. Freshly steamed and grilled meats between tortillas are rarely unpleasant, and the same goes at Lily’s. Among my favorites are the steamed beef (maciza), marinated pork (adobada), and yes, the eye (ojo), chopped up and cooked so you don’t even really know, except of course that you know. I would, however, avoid the oft-dry grilled beef (asada).

Half the fun of tacos is the customization aspect, and Lily’s plays this card quite well. Tacos come bare, coaxing patrons to the excellent salsa bar. One nice touch is that the salsa bar offers cilantro, onions, or a mix of the two. Tacos will often come with cilantro and onion included, but the current set up allows maximal customization (and the chance to avoid onions if you are on a date!). The adobada taco recommended above does not really need sauce as it is quite heavily spiced, and is instead best spruced up by a squeeze of lime. On the other hand I find the fatty, glutinous meats like ojo are cut well by the tangy green sauce and a healthy dose of onion and cilantro. That having been said, there really are no right or wrong answers at the salsa bar. But with these upgrades you might forget you’re eating chopped up eyeballs and can instead appreciate the unparalleled moistness of this hard to find protein. Oh, and regulars request free fried onions and peppers on the side.

When operating a business based on volume and turn over, it is often easy to fall into a pattern of cold, businesslike service. This is not the case at Lily’s, as customers can expect warm greetings at the register. But business does move quickly, with staffers buzzing around clearing tables and freshening the establishment’s two salsa bars. The décor at Lily’s is typical for a taqueria, with light colors, open spaces, and new age posters hung around as if someone trying to complete the hole-in-the-wall feel of the place.

So it seems there is at least one taqueria in Santa Barbara that has resisted the urge to inflate prices and managed to offer terrific value to customers. It is unfortunately the exception to the rule, as the cost of living here, measured by tacos, is certainly still quite high. But restaurants like Lily’s offer a welcome respite and a valuable formula for success. How do they do it? I asked Lily’s owner, Jose Sepulveda, and with a proud smile he responded, “Working hard and doing just one thing.” I got the feeling he had been asked that before.

Lily’s Tacos

Address: 310 Chapala Street

Tel: 805-966-9180

Hours: Mon 11am-9pm

Tue Closed

Wed-Thu 11am-9pm

Fri-Sat 11am-10pm

Sun 11am-10:30

** and 1/2 (of four stars)

     Nestled between the cafes and liquor stores of Isla Vista, one small store spearheads a crusade for healthy, environmentally conscious, and all-around good food.

The Isla Vista Co-op was born during the tumultuous age of the anti-establishment 1970’s. Members of the Isla Vista and UCSB communities started the “Whole Wheat Buying Club” in Anis q’Oyo park, which distributed basic foods to its members for as little as $5.00 a week. The purpose of the organization was to create an alternative to commercial supermarket chains, which club members felt were more concerned with making a buck then what their customers put in their mouths, how it affected their bodies, or how their produce affected the environment.

     While times have definitely changed, the mentality that originally defined the co-op at its founding has stayed the same. The co-op pledge is to be “a trusted source of natural & organic products and a reliable resource for consumer information — driven not by profit, but by a motivation for community autonomy, mutual aid, and environmental justice.” Since its conception, the Co-op has continue to evolve and expand, and is presently located on Seville Road in Isla Vista. Instead of acting as a food distributor, the co-op is now a market where its almost 3,000 members [and non-members] can find healthy, organic, and locally grown food options at one convenient location seven days a week.

     “We’re happy the co-op is growing, as well as its growing” said Store Manager Melissa Cohen.

     Many people are not aware of the amount of additives that are in the foods that they usually eat, which is why the members of the Co-op emphasize their wide variety of organic food choices. Its members stress the negative effects of pesticides, food that isn’t organically grown, nasty artificial additives like MSG, and the harmful environmental effects of transporting produce long distances.

    “If you want to eat Cheetos then eat somewhere else,” Cohen explained. “If you want to support local farmers, then shop with us; if you want to save money, shop with us; if you want to try new foods, then shop here.”

     The food co-op encourages Gauchos to make better food choices. Don’t let the terms vegetarian or vegan scare you away. Experiment with different types of vegetarian foods, like Annie’s microwavable vegetarian lasagna. Or better yet, ditch the microwave and make your own culinary creation.

     “We want people to feel comfortable cooking. If you feel you’re eating something uncomfortable to your taste, start cooking, it’s liberating” says Cohen.

To help you cook, the co-op has a mini-library stacked with all sorts of books on vegan, vegetarian, and raw foods lifestyles, along with easy recipes. Aside from the library, the co-op also sends out a newspaper called “The Sunflower Seed” that lets people know about recent and upcoming events in the food co-op and the community.  

     “The co-op is also an information resource. We’re here to spread the word” says Cohen.

    The co-op plans to eventually expand to a warehouse market in Old Town Goleta, where people can buy more food in bulk to obtain lower prices.

By Claire Wei

     Rachel Zoe famously said, “Fashion is my art. It’s what wakes me up in the morning and puts me to bed at night.” My friends dub me as the go-to person for any fashion advice. I’ve had many experiences in the fashion industry, but nothing tops this summer when I lived in New York City. Not only was I a temporary New Yorker, but I was also an intern at Marie Claire magazine, which amounts to double reward points since fashion and the Big Apple go hand in hand. Despite impossible last-minute demands, I worked with renowned people in the industry, observing how their opinions influence what the masses wear.

     The first half of my internship primarily involved secretarial work. In between my copy jobs, I went on intern pickups and errands to get pieces from a designer’s showroom for upcoming photo shoots. On those pickups, I’ve met several designers and stepped into some of the grandest designer showrooms, like Bottega Veneta, Chanel, Dolce & Gabbana, Michael Kors, and Diane von Furstenberg. Seeing Nina Garcia get so involved with editing was fascinating, since she was considered the Simon Cowell of Project Runway, yet she has the powers to easily persuade others. I even worked with her to help match accessories with outfits, and I memorized jewelry designers and their pieces so sample returns would go more smoothly.

     After August, I really dove into the world of a fashion magazine. I created storyboards, which are pictures of potential clothes and accessories tacked onto a cork board and labeled according to a trend or theme. My boss also invited my creativity when I suggested an artist as an inspiration for one of the trend stories. During New York Fashion Week, she gave me her invitation for Nicole Miller’s show. This was the first time I had ever gone to Fashion Week, and to put it into perspective, it’s like meeting Oprah Winfrey: incredibly rare and unbelievably shocking (P.S: I have also met her. See me for more details). Nicole Miller’s show proved more than just a simple collection showcase; it proved that I deserved to mingle with fashion’s top people in the same room.

My biggest accomplishment was working for an Oscar de la Renta photo shoot. Given only less than twelve hours to order ten pairs of rare Keds kids’ shoes online, I had to get crafty. Though it’s against my contract to give out any further details, I can safely say that my creative results will be featured in the upcoming issue of Marie Claire.

     Despite popular belief that applicants have to cut off their limbs on top of knowing people in the industry, I landed this job just by googling “fashion internships”. The first day was unbelievably boring, except for my first Devil Wears Prada encounter. Let’s just skip the details and say that it ended with an editor yelling at me about incorrectly filing shoes on the back wall. From then on, I learned that lessons are 80% self-taught.

     Overall, my internship was definitely worth the 12-hour unpaid shifts and sprinting all over the city in four inchers. I met notable fashion gurus, like the time Nina Garcia introduced me to Tim Gunn from “Project Runway”. I learned the entire magazine process and everything that goes in to compile one issue. I even worked with publicists for Paris Fashion Week, securing rare invitations by negotiating in their native tongue. Marie Claire taught me to hone my styling skills and improve my personal style. Despite people’s opinions that fashion is frilly and worthless, I realized how difficult success in the industry is achieved. To be Anna Wintour, sheer ingenuity does not cut it; brutal competition and subtle deceit are also necessary to be successful. Fashion is certainly craftier than nuclear physics. Now with Marie Claire under my belt, I’m ready to go back to the Big Apple next summer to get more chances of a lifetime.

Alex Cabot has edited this article

The Artshole
This house got its start rather recently when two years ago, art major Rob Grey decided to turn his humble abode into an art exhibition of his work. Surrounded by a polka dotted wooden fence, people would gather in the front yard for a session of spoken word and visual art. The funky pad kept up its hipster vibe after its original creator graduated, thanks to Max, who keeps alive the tradition with all its original paintings in addition to his friends who have contributed and kept the tradition going.
Currently, it has evolved into a self-sustaining, community art space. An impressive series that is worth mentioning is the model of body organs on a pink splattered board.
In the past, bands from all over the world have come to play at this homey venue. Electric shows are performed outside in the front yard, and acoustic shows are held in the art deco-ed living room. Musicians do not go home with empty pockets either. Generally a hat is sent around for donations so that band members are able to walk away with some gratuity.
As this venue’s music scene begins to progress, the Artshole would like to begin focusing on hosting local bands. Max’s parting words for those who are inspired to turn their own homes into a important venue: “If you build it, it will come.”
Marley House
Surely, you’ve all seen it before; it’s the house on DP with the huge painting on Bob Marley superposed on a sun.
Before its current tenants, Isla Vista’s very own hit Reggae band Rebolution used to live there. Just about every weekend, the Marley House promises a party, with bodies piling out into the streets and cops patrolling for debauchery.
Isla Vista’s hottest DJs such as Cam Francisco and DJ Sean Bronze spin on the balcony while Isla Vistans hear it half a block way, as night crawlers dance by. Walk by during a casual weekday and you might hear the melodious call of the saxophone by Gerry, one of the Marley House residents.
Rancho
This serene sanctuary wins the title for oldest house in Isla Vista, built in 1885.
Currently, occupants are reconciling with their landowner who wants to tear down the property and turn it into something more prosperous like an apartment complex. Many people are fighting to preserve the Rancho tradition. Inhabitants eagerly refer to it as a magical oasis. A fantastical getaway for hippie lovers, one must follow the laughter and duck under the overgrown wildlife to find its hidden location.
The Rancho lot itself has the actual house, with a door that leads to an upstairs loft where bright cartoonish creatures are painted onto the walls. Bamboo and fuchsia flowers surround the backyard, with a gymnast’s trapeze hanging from a tree branch and an upside-down bicycle posted as art in the bushes. A colorful patio area welcomes the onlooker to get comfortable on the copper colored couch.
The inside is remarkably cluttered from floor to ceiling with art that the inhabitants have all painted or glued together. The house is a beautiful representation of art by those who live the experience and surround themselves within. On any given day, one is sure to find people crashing on the couch. Occupants are cleaning up the backyard and adding to their art collection.

Miller House
The Miller House is a four-story house that has been around for 30 years, located on mountain side DP. It used to be called Hotel Del Playa because students came to party there but would get too drunk to leave and end up crashing on one of the many lovebeds.
The setup of the house is unique, with large glass windows that overlook the biggest balcony in all of Isla Vista. The inside bar is made out of a fish tank. Passing by, you’ve probably seen the Miller sign in the upper right corner, or aquamarine colored lights dangling on the left. You may have even seen people relaxing on the balcony staring out into the sunset. Currently, PIKE boys live there and throw parties; though it is not officially considered the frat’s senior house.
At the end of the night, one can count on the Miller House for its reputation in the area with its parties that go on till the break of dawn.