Author Archives: Neal Graffy XNGH

A Hotel in Mission Canyon? By Neal Graffy XNGH December 13, 2009 For such a small piece of Santa Barbara, Mission Canyon has had just about one of everything, including, of all things, a hotel. You’d never have known it … Continue reading →

The Hotel Californian By Neal Graffy XNGH December 13, 2009 The poor, old Californian Hotel was back in the news this week, so I thought we’d “check in” to the history of that once-proud hostelry. After nearly five months of … Continue reading →

Santa Barbara Missions You’ve Never Seen By Neal Graffy XNGH December 6, 2009 Last Friday, Mission Santa Barbara celebrated its 223rd birthday. Now, I grew up thinking, as I believe most residents also do, that the Mission we see before … Continue reading →

The Chapala Street Wharf by Neal Graffy XNGH November 8, 2009 “Back in the day” there were basically two ways to get humans and cargo to Santa Barbara. You either tossed it overboard and let it float ashore – an … Continue reading →

Just an Old Photo… By Neal Graffy XNGH November 1, 2009 It was just an old photograph of a Santa Barbara house and I probably could have left it at that. But for me, there’s a thousand words behind each … Continue reading →

Oliver Fountain By Neal Graffy XNGH October 25, 2009 This week we return again to the intersection of Mountain Drive, Mission Canyon Road and technically, Los Olivos, to visit a large stack of sandstone boulders. These are usually observed as … Continue reading →

Mission Creek Bridge By Neal Graffy XNGH October 18, 2009 This Thursday, October 22, marks the 118th anniversary of the Mission Creek Bridge. In the years prior to the initial anniversary date, a stone aqueduct, part of the Mission waterworks, … Continue reading →

by Neal Graffy XNGH Halloween brings us the images of ghosts, goblins, and of course cemeteries, where the ghosts and goblins live. While many homes, in decorating for the Trick or Treaters, line the lawn and walkways with tombstones, you’d … Continue reading →

by Neal Graffy XNGH At the first hint of precipitation, today’s media quickly update their “Stormwatch” icons and focus their cameras and microphones on the first trickle of water down the gutter. Each drop of rain is bisected and dissected … Continue reading →